Lion Bred for Life in a Cage at Jacksonville Zoo
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A female lion cub born at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on June 30 continues the baby boom that started at the zoo with the birth of two Amur Leopard cubs on May 31.
The cub, who is the first surviving lion birth at the zoo since 1974, is also being nursed by zoo staff since this is only the second offspring for mother Tamu, according to a release from the zoo.
A female lion cub, born on June 30th at 3:00 p.m., is the most significant birth since the leopard cubs. The cub now weighs three and one-half pounds and appears to be healthy and strong. Because this is only the second offspring for Tamu, the dam (mother), she is not nursing the cub adequately. Therefore, the staff has been supplementing the cub’s diet with formula that is being bottle fed. The sire (father) of the cub, Mshoni, is one of the most genetically valuable lions in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ population. That makes this birth highly significant and the cub very valuable to the health of the AZA population. Due to the dam’s inexperience as mother, the risk for the cub is increased. Zookeepers and veterinarians will continue to closely monitor the cub to ensure its health. This is first surviving lion birth at Jacksonville Zoo since 1974.
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