More Happy News from Lion Camp!
Posted at 3:07 pm August 7, 2006 by Marcia Redding
Lion Camp has been a very busy place lately! We are pleased to announce that the pride has increased again, by three! (Read Marcia's previous blog, Oshana's Cubs Debut at Lion Camp.) Mina gave birth to her first litter on July 20. Izu, the father of Oshana's litter, is also the sire of the new lion cubs. The family is housed in the maternity suite inside the bedroom area at the Wild Animal Park's Lion Camp.
We are very proud of Mina. It's hard work caring for three cubs. The first night, she spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to lie down in the den without sitting on one of the babies. Finally, she discovered that the cubs could be gently repositioned in a corner by using her mouth and her paw. Figuring out how to feed three at a time was also a learning experience, but she soon discovered that she needed to stretch out a bit to allow all three access to her teats.
Mina carries her cubs out of the den every day, and they spend some time in the adjoining room. The little ones are able to walk a bit on wobbly legs, and they all go different directions. When Mina gets tired of keeping track of everybody, back into the den they go.
As of now, we do not know the sex of the cubs. We refer to them as " A," " B," and " C," according to their birth order. A and B are nearly the same size and very husky. C, the last to be born, is smaller than the others and took a bit longer to learn how to nurse. As of now, all three are doing very well.
I will post frequent progress reports as the cubs grow. Welcome to Lion Camp, little ones!
Marcia Redding is a senior mammal keeper at the Wild Animal Park.
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August 7th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
Thanks, Marcia, for updating us and addressing our numerous questions, while staying busy with all the youngsters in the growing pride. Based on the experience of Oshana and her cubs, I'm guessing we have about two months before these young ones might be introduced to the Lion Camp, assuming Mina shows the same comfort levels as Oshana, correct? If the introduction of Izu to his oldest offspring goes well, will there be a possiblity of the 3 adults and 5 cubs being on display together or is it simply to early to even speculate? Are there two separate maternity suites, or were Oshana and the older cubs moved to a different bedroom to accomodate Mina and allow you and your fellow keepers to monitor them via the maternity cam? Also, do the mesh screens allow indirect interaction between the three adults from their separate rooms, or are they all without adult interaction. Also switching back to the other pride, you mentioned in a previous blog that about a month or so ago Etosha and M'Bari bred, so is there a possibility of even more growth of the lion family? Also, I know her first pregnancy had problems which caused her to be seperated from M'Bari until she healed, but generally how often do the adult lionesses give birth: annually, or more or less frequently?
August 7th, 2006 at 4:36 pm
Izu is one romantic lion and has been a very busy guy lately! Welcome to the world, you tiny bundles of joy! You don't know how lucky you are to be born at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. You will be so loved and well taken care of there. Can't wait to see some pictures and to finD out what their sex is and when they get their names. It sounds like ma'ma is doing well and her motherly instincts are kicking in. God Bless the entire family.
August 7th, 2006 at 6:33 pm
Welcome welcome welcome - 1 for each of you little darlings!
This is wonderful news!! I can't wait to get more updates… Way to go Mina, good work for a first-time mommy. Please keep us posted, Marcia!!
August 8th, 2006 at 6:29 am
Ohhhh how we wish for a lion cam !! =)
August 8th, 2006 at 11:55 am
Congrats on the three little bundles of joy. I am so excited to hear they are doing so well and Mina is being a good Mom; that is what is so important and that the cubs are doing well and growing. Can't wait to hear more on their growth and when you find out about the sex of each and their names. This is such good news: 5 cubs at the lion camp! Who would have known a few months ago that there would be so many.
I also came saturday to see the other two cubs and what a joy it was to watch them run around discovering everything and to watch Oshana try her hardest to get them back into the den. I was there for over an hour and could have stayed longer. Again, congrats to all of you for all of these beautiful lions and their cubs, a job well done by all. So looking forward to seeing all of the cubs out and playing at lion camp…
Editor's note: I was out there this morning to see the cubs, and I also stayed for an hour–they were so much fun to watch!
August 8th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
How wonderful! Congratulations to Mina and Izu. I visited the WAP this morning and saw Oshana's cubs for the first time. They are adorable with boundless energy. They gave a 75-minute performance before tiring and napping.
August 10th, 2006 at 11:29 pm
Oh, this is so exciting! I am so happy for Mina and Izu, you fertile boy! What a wonderful end to summer, and many playdates between Abena and Bakari and their new half-siblings!
August 11th, 2006 at 6:15 pm
Oshana and cubs are darling! She's such a watchful Momma. Dad Izu is gorgeous! Been to WAP lion camp twice this past week — Just couldn't stay away from those cubbies!!!! Looking forward to seeing my favorite (of the original 6) Mina with her cubs when they're all ready to say hello to our world.
To a keeper named Michelle (I think that was her name) — Your information about the lions was very appreciated. Knowledge is a wonderful thing to share, so thank you. My daughter just LOVES those cubs so I have a feeling we'll be there very often.
Some FYI to the others — Your newest baby giraffe is a cutie, too –
August 14th, 2006 at 11:51 am
With all the new babies coming out, when do you think we will have a new elephant baby? I thought I read that it was due in early August. The cubs are really cute; they are really giving their mother a good work out. We watched the video and we laughed at her trying to keep them in check.
August 14th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Any updates on Mina and her cubs? Would like to hear anything on them, I can hardly wait to see them, I know they will be just as cute as Abena and Bakari.
August 15th, 2006 at 10:55 am
I visited the Wild animal park last week on thursday - and was sad to learn that I missed seeing the cubs because i didn't know they were only out for an hour or so first thing in the morning. Perhaps a sign could be posted at the gate to let visitors know they are on display early… the photos look great and Izu was amazing to watch. It was my first visit to the wild animal park and I thoroughly enjoyed it. more webcams would be appreciated as would a trail that goes down to the border of the field exhibits - i wanted to watch the animals of East africa longer than the tram tours allowed…
August 15th, 2006 at 5:59 pm
Welcome, you adorable little cubs. You are so blessed to be in such a loving environment. We were so struck with grief over the tragic loss of our precious Koza so the Lord has filled our hearts with joy and multiplied it by 5! Marcia, thank you for always keeping us posted on these sweet babies. And to the staff and volunteers at WAP, God bless you for all you do for these gorgeous animals. Watching them on the web cam is such a delight, I just can't wait to go to WAP to see them for myself.