Lion Cubs becoming Mobile
Posted at 5:03 pm November 30, 2007 by Kym NelsonAs I am sure you can imagine, life has been a lot different at Lion Camp since the newest additions made their appearance (see previous blog, Quick Lion Cub Update). All seven cubs are doing great! They are little piglets and are without a doubt the roundest lions I have ever seen! The cubs are fast becoming mobile and are no longer spending the majority of their time in the dens but are instead exploring the house, under a watchful eye from their mothers, of course! Oshana’s cubs, being four days older, are a little more precocious, but Mina’s are developing quickly. Soon I am sure there will be no distinguishable difference between the two litters.
Both of the new moms are doing a great job caring for their babies. They seem to be old hands at this motherhood thing now and are much calmer and more relaxed than they were with their first litters. The moms, with their respective cubs, are separated from each other by a mesh gate but they can see each other whenever they choose. They spend quite a bit of time lying next to each other; perhaps they are swapping mothering tips? Both girls have even brought a cub right up to the mesh several times for the other to get a good look at. This type of behavior makes it look very promising that we will be able to introduce the litters to each other at a young age.
The cubs are scheduled for their first veterinary examinations and vaccinations in early January and at this point they will all be identified permanently with a microchip. We are hoping that once permanent IDs have been assigned we will be able to meld our lions into one large pride! Izu, the proud father, has been given visual access to Mina’s cubs but Oshana is not quite ready to show off her babies. The dens are surrounded with plywood to add privacy, but some of the boards have been removed from Mina’s den, allowing Izu to peer in. We will gauge from the mother’s behavior when the appropriate time to physically introduce Izu to the cubs will be. We are confident that he will prove to be a wonderful father once again!
Marcia and I will be sure to keep you posted on any developments from Lion Camp. This is truly a great holiday season!
Kym Nelson is a keeper at the Wild Animal Park.
Once the lion cubs are on exhibit, we will post photos of them.
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November 30th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Thank you for the update - it’s great to hear that everyone is healthy and thriving. I loved the part you wrote about the mom’s each bringing a cub over to the mesh - they are so proud of their babies - very touching! Looking forward to more updates and congratulations for all your hard work. Obviously the lions feel very comfortable in their surroundings and with the staff at the WAP!
November 30th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Thank you for the update, I bet they are just adorable, I can hardly wait to see them on exhibit. This is a nice holiday with all of the cubs doing so well and the Moms being so good with them and relaxed. I am glad to hear Izu gets to see the cubs and will soon get to see all of them.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Thanks for the update! It’s so cute and endearing how the mommies are showing off their babies to each other. I’m sure they will have no problem when they’re all reunited! I can’t wait to see daddy Izu’s reaction to his seven - seven!! - precocious piglets!!
November 30th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
I was hoping that you all would have some pics of the lion babies by now! Please don’t make us wait until they are on exhibit, ok? Would love to see these babies while they are still little! Sounds like these cubs are starting to get their legs under them now! Zhen Zhen, the baby panda, is getting her legs going and has started walking herself, so the panda baby and the lion babies are starting to walk pretty much at the same time! That’s cool! It also sounds like that these cubs will be able to get along pretty well once you are able to get all 7 of them together in a few weeks. Now, that will fun to watch when they all do get together! All seven of them will be running around chasing each other, jumping on each other, and I will feel sorry for Izu the dad, because he will be the subject of all 7 of his “kids” jumping on him soon! Oh boy…….
Have fun with your precious cubs! Oh yeah—please let us know what their names are as soon as you can, ok? They all do need names real soon.
Chari Mercier
At. Pete, FL
December 1st, 2007 at 7:16 am
Can’t wait to see the photos! Love the description about them being the “roundest lions” you’ve ever seen.
The mothers are obviously very healthy and well nourished and able to provide lots of milk to their hungry cubs taking advantage of all the milk they can guzzle.
December 1st, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Thanks for the update, can’t wait to find out names!!
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:38 am
Thanks for the update. Can’t wait to hear more, and see some pictures of the new little cubs. To bad they aren’t big enough to be outside for the Lights Festival. Are the “boys” out at night like they were last year? It sounded like such an awesome opportunity for the 2006 cubs and visitors, and that everyone really enjoyed it.
December 4th, 2007 at 11:01 am
I’m so glad the babies are all doing well. I have learned that the mothers usually bring their cubs back to the pride at about six weeks. Will this be the time that you allow the babies to be with each other? It’s great that there isn’t a big difference in age. (No one to play the part of bully when they are all equal in size.) Please post the photos soon. I’m so anxious to see them. Thank you for your kind discriptive updates. I can almost see the dens in my mind.