Zookeepers at London Zoo faced the challenge of sharp claws and feisty personalities when they conducted the first health check for three endangered Asiatic lion cubs this week.
The 10-week-old cubs underwent weighing, vaccination, and sex determination by the zoo’s veterinary team. To ensure a stress-free experience, the health checks were carried out in the cubs’ familiar dens, with every step organized to be as quick and painless as possible.
Mum Arya kept a watchful eye from a nearby den while big cat keepers Kathryn Sanders, Amy McKillop, John Ho, and Tara Humphrey managed the checks.
Head vet Amanda Guthrie announced that Arya is the proud mother of two boys and one girl after the successful completion of the check-up. The cubs also received vaccines, had microchips fitted, and had their tiny paws and ears inspected.
The spirited cubs would not stay still, so weight measurements were taken by placing each cub inside a tub on the scales while the keepers recorded their vital statistics.
Zookeeper Kathryn Sanders shared, “Our three Asiatic lion cubs are doing incredibly well, and their first health check is a major milestone for them; I’m delighted to say that they are thriving.
Asiatic lions are an endangered species with a wild population estimated to be only 600 to 700 individuals. One of the greatest vulnerabilities of the wild population is that it is isolated to a single habitat: the Gir Forest in Gujarat, India. The zoo population serves as a vital backup for this vulnerable wild population.
The cubs’ sexes and vital statistics will be added to the global species database, shared by zoos worldwide, contributing to the international breeding program for this endangered species.
Every opportunity to examine an animal as rare as these boosts our veterinary knowledge and expertise, which we can directly apply to animals we are protecting in the wild,” said Head vet Amanda Guthrie.
Liontrust, the conservation zoo’s supporter, in collaboration with educational charity 10Ticks, is collecting name suggestions from school children across the UK for the three cubs, which will be put to a public vote soon.
The successful health check marks a significant step in the conservation efforts for Asiatic lions and highlights the crucial role that zoos play in protecting endangered species.
