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Time of India
01-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
2nd lion cub dies at Delhi zoo; Officials say was weak and underweight
New Delhi: An Asiatic male lion cub, born to lioness named Mahagauri, died at the Delhi zoo on Thursday, marking the second death of the four lion cubs born at the zoo on Sunday. Officials said the underweight and weak cub was found to have not been taking the feed well. The first cub, born underdeveloped, died on Tuesday. Sanjeet Kumar, director of the National Zoological Park, said, "As per CCTV observation, one of the cubs was taking mother's milk less frequently than the other cub on Wednesday. It had very little or no milk and seemed very weak and dull at night. It was decided on Thursday to intervene and bring it to the hospital for proper care and hand-rearing. The cub was found underweight, about 700 grams, and very weak." You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Zoo officials said supportive therapy and kitten replacement milk formula, along with all necessary therapy, were given to the cub. "It died around 3 pm despite the best efforts by the vet team," said Kumar. The other two cubs are said to be active. "The first cub is with the mother and is taking the mother's feed regularly. The second cub, which is being hand-reared for two days, is also responding to the feed formula and is active. In the last two days, this cub gained around 150 grams in weight, and all vitals are normal," said Kumar. He added that continuous monitoring of both cubs is being done by the animal keeper and veterinary team. On Sunday, Delhi zoo saw the birth of four cubs to the 5-year-old lioness Mahagauri and 5-year-old lion Maheshwar. It was the first successful breeding of the species at the zoo since 2009. Both Mahagauri and Maheshwar came to Delhi Zoo from Gujarat's Junagadh in 2021 when they were only cubs, 1.5 years old.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Another Asiatic lion cub dies at Delhi zoo
New Delhi, An Asiatic lion cub died at the Delhi Zoo on Thursday, marking the second death among the four cubs born to lioness Mahagauri earlier this week. The cub, a male, was reportedly weak and underweight, and despite efforts by the zoo's veterinary team, it could not be saved, according to the zoo official. Zoo officials said the cub appeared visibly weak on Thursday morning and was immediately shifted to the zoo hospital after carefully separating it from the mother. 'The cub was not moving much and appeared dehydrated. It was in critical condition and, despite best efforts, died later in the day,' an official familiar with the matter said. Delhi Zoo Director Sanjeet Kumar said the cub weighed only around 700 grams and had not been feeding well since Wednesday night. 'We administered supportive therapy and kitten milk replacement formula, but unfortunately, the cub succumbed at around 3 pm,' he said. One of the remaining cubs is being hand-reared by the veterinary team and is said to be responding well to care. 'The hand-reared cub has already gained about 150 grams in weight,' Kumar added. The fourth cub is healthy and remains with the mother lioness, Mahagauri. Both are being closely monitored through CCTV surveillance. The first cub death occurred on Tuesday, with authorities stating the newborn was underdeveloped. On the same day, the decision was made to shift another cub to the zoo hospital for hand-rearing. The birth of the four cubs on Sunday to five-year-old Mahagauri and five-year-old Maheshwar was the first successful breeding of Asiatic lions at the Delhi Zoo since 2009. Mahagauri and Maheshwar were brought to Delhi from Gujarat's Junagadh in 2021 as young cubs. Established in 1959, the Delhi Zoo is home to 95 species of animals and birds. It received its first pair of lions in 1969.
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
How Delhi zoo is hand-rearing a lion cub after celebrating the birth of its first litter in 16 years
At the National Zoological Park (NZP) in Delhi, a newborn female Asiatic lion cub is now at the centre of a delicate rescue effort. The veterinary staff has been working around the clock to hand-rear the cub after it was found to be weak and neglected by its mother. Nestled in a temperature-controlled enclosure within the zoo hospital, the newborn is being fed kitten milk replacer, a special milk formula, every two hours and it is beginning to respond well to intensive care, senior zoo officials told The Indian Express on Wednesday. Born on Sunday as part of a rare litter of four—the first in 16 years at the Delhi zoo—the cub initially remained with its mother, five-year-old Mahagauri. The next day, however, it was moved to the zoo hospital after showing signs of weakness. 'Presently, hand-rearing of the lion cub is ongoing at the zoo hospital of NZP. The cub is stabilising and responding well for now. She is on kitten milk replacer, which is being given every two hours, and remains under continuous monitoring,' said Dr Abhijit Bhawal, veterinary officer at the Delhi Zoo. The process is not new for the zoo authorities as they have previously hand-reared tiger cubs as well. Additionally, the cub's body weight is being continuously monitored. 'The cub was born on April 27 along with three others. Unfortunately, one was underdeveloped and did not survive. The current cub under care was shifted to the hospital after she was found weak and unattended by the mother. The remaining two cubs are with the lioness and are doing well,' added Bhawal. Dr Sanjeet Kumar, director of the zoo, listed to The Indian Express the parameters that are being monitored: daily body weight and other vitals, fixing quantity of milk per feed and interval of feeding, pre-feeding and post-feeding protocols, and sampling of faeces. The Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009, laid down by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), mandates a nursery for the hand-rearing of animal infants in recognised zoos. As per a CZA publication titled 'Hand rearing of wild mammals in captivity', 'Hand rearing practice generally includes some basic arrangement like provision of sanitation, warm environment, a suitable feeding regimen, attention to excretions (emptying of the bowels) and general health.' 'From record-keeping and physical examinations to intensive care, sanitation, housing, and providing the appropriate milk formula, managing infants — especially of large mammal species — is both challenging and highly time-sensitive,' said Bhawal. There are species-specific protocols for hand-rearing, as per CZA. Intervention by veterinarians and zookeepers is carried out only if necessary, as the primary focus remains on minimal human interference. The cubs are fathered by Maheshwar, a male lion brought to the zoo in an animal exchange programme from Gujarat's Sakkarbaug Zoo in 2021.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Newborn Asiatic lion cub dies at Delhi Zoo
One of the four Asiatic lion cubs born at the Delhi Zoo last Sunday has died due to physical complications, while another is under veterinary care and is being hand-reared, officials said on Tuesday. The remaining two cubs are in good health, they added. The cubs were born to a five-year-old Asiatic lioness, Mahagauri, and her male counterpart Maheshwar, five, in the first successful breeding of the species at the zoo since 2009. Also Read: Four lion cubs born at Delhi Zoo 'The cub which was born last died in the early hours of Monday. The cub was underdeveloped,' said zoo director Sanjeet Kumar. Later in the evening, another cub was hospitalised as it showed signs of weak health, he added. 'The cub's condition was unstable and it was shifted for hand-rearing. It is responding well as of now. The other two cubs and the lioness are also doing well as of now,' Kumar said, adding that their health is under constant monitoring. Also Read: Escaped lion enters house, mauls 14-year-old girl to death in Kenya Dr Abhijit Bhawal, a veterinary officer at the zoo, said the cub under special care is being given a specially formulated milk. 'The zoo is taking care in every aspect for the cub's survival,' he said. Mahagauri and Maheshwar were brought to the Delhi Zoo from Gujarat's Junagadh in 2021, when they were barely one and a half years old. The last time the zoo saw a successful birth of lion cubs was in May 2009. 'Back then, the litter was of two cubs,' director Kumar said. The zoo received its first-ever pair of lions in 1969. Among the recent births of big cats at the zoo, two Royal Bengal tiger cubs were born in May 2023 to tigress Siddhi. While the litter was of five cubs, three were stillborn and only two survived. In August 2022, three white tiger cubs were also born at the zoo, of which one died four months later. Also Read: Have Asiatic lions from Gujarat found a new home in Diu? The zoo has been marred in controversy over frequent animal deaths in recent months — at least three deaths were reported in April itself. These included a Thamin deer, a Gaur calf and an Albino blackbuck. HT had also reported last week how a zookeeper was mauled by a leopard while attempting to transfer the animal from its cage to a public enclosure. The incident revealed staff shortages and misallocation, as the zookeeper was only experienced in handling herbivores. In March, a female dhole (wild dog) died at the zoo, while in February, three other animals died, including a 15-year-old female leopard, Babli (old age-related complications), a 22-year-old jaguar (old-age) and a 15-year-old nilgai. Established in November 1959, the Delhi Zoo presently houses 95 species of different animals and birds.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Lion cub dies in Delhi zoo a day after birth, another cub unstable
New Delhi: A lion cub born on April 27 died at Delhi Zoo, officials said on Tuesday. A five-year-old Asiatic lioness, Mahagauri, gave birth to a litter of four on Sunday, of which one cub died on Monday. Officials said that the cub, which was being reared by the mother, was underdeveloped. Another cub was found to be in poor health and underdeveloped and was shifted to the zoo hospital, where it is being hand-reared, the zoo director said. "Out of the four cubs, one which was born last died as it was underdeveloped. On April 28, in the evening, another cub was found unstable and immediately shifted to the zoo hospital for hand-rearing. The cub is responding well as of now. The other two cubs are with the lioness and are also doing well as of now. Constant CCTV monitoring of the lioness and two cubs is being done," Sanjeet Kumar, the zoo director, said. The lion and lioness who became parents were brought to the zoo in 2021 from Junagarh. Sunday was the first time the lioness delivered a baby. Officials then pointed out that the first 24 hours were crucial and the mother was taking care of the cubs. The last time successful lion breeding happened at the zoo was in May 2009 — two cubs were born then. Among the recent big cat births in the zoo, two royal Bengal tiger cubs were born in May 2023 to tigress Siddhi. Of the litter was five, three were stillborn. In Aug 2022, three white tiger cubs were born at the zoo, of which one died four months later. In March, a female dhole (wild dog) died at the zoo. The animal was undergoing treatment. In Feb, three animals died — a 15-year-old female leopard named Babli (due to old age-related complications), a 22-year-old jaguar (old age), and a 15-year-old nilgai.
