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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.
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.
Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
After 16 years, Asiatic lion cubs born in Delhi Zoo
For the first time in 16 years, a five-year-old Asiatic lioness, Mahagauri, delivered four cubs at the Delhi Zoo early morning on Sunday. Mahagauri was brought to Delhi Zoo in 2021 through an animal exchange program from Gujarat's Sakkarbaug Zoo along with two other lions, Shailja and Maheshwar. Zoo officials confirmed that the cubs have been fathered by Maheshwar. Currently, Mahagauri and her cubs are being monitored around the clock through CCTV cameras. Officials stated that the next 24 to 48 hours are 'extremely critical', especially since this is Mahagauri's first litter. Intervention by veterinarians and zookeepers will only occur if absolutely necessary, to avoid distressing the new mother and her cubs, a zoo official said. 'So far, Mahagauri is exhibiting strong maternal instincts and is taking good care of her cubs. 'We cannot ascertain the health of the cubs now… some cubs could still be weak post birth, and careful observation is crucial,' the zoo official said. Senior zoo officials emphasised that no external interference will be made unless a medical emergency arises. 'After 48 hours, if necessary, we may intervene. But for now, the focus is solely on observation,' an official stated. 'If the cubs are free of disease, this birth will be hailed as a successful addition… as part of Delhi Zoo's conservation efforts to strengthen the population of endangered Asiatic lions,' another official said. The birth of Mahagauri's cubs comes just months after a tragic setback at the zoo. Earlier this year, a nine-month-old female white tiger cub succumbed to 'traumatic shock' and 'acute pneumonia'.
