On May 3rd, Monarto Zoo welcomed a beautiful African Lion cub to its fold. The cub appears healthy and strong and mother, Kiamba, is an excellent caretaker for the new arrival. Monarto zoo is offering the public the opportunity to name the cub through the auction website eBay. African lions in the wild are in decline as a result of habitat loss, human conflict and disease from domestic animals. Wild populations have gone from nearly 250,00 individuals in the 1960's to less than 20,000 today. Professor Christopher West, CEO of Zoos South Australia said, “We are celebrating the arrival of a single lion cub who will act as an ambassador of its species to people in Australia. We want people to help us secure a future for wild lions in Africa.”
Photo credits: Sunday Mail
More photos below the fold…
Monarto Zoo is proud to announce the arrival of a beautiful African Lion cub born at 4pm on May 3.
Carnivore Keeper Claire Geister said the cub looks strong and healthy and its mother, Kiamba is doing a marvellous job caring for it.
“The cub was the only one in the litter and has been developing well over the past few weeks, venturing outside the den and building in confidence daily,” Ms Geister said.
“We are counting down to the cub’s health check as this will also be the day that we can confirm if it is a male or female,” she said.
Kiamba is seven years old and came from Adelaide Zoo. Leroy, the cub’s father, is ten years old and came to Monarto Zoo via Mogo Zoo in NSW. He has four females in his pride.
Kiamba and Leroy are a recommended breeding pair within the region, so this cub and any subsequent young will benefit from the strong genetic diversity their match provides.
Zoos South Australia CEO, Prof Chris West said African lions in the wild are in decline as a result of habitat loss, human conflict and disease from domestic animals.
There are less than 20,000 in the wild today whereas in the 1960s there were 250,000.
“We are celebrating the arrival of a single lion cub who will act as an ambassador of its species to people in Australia. We want people to help us secure a future for wild lions in Africa,” Prof West said.
To celebrate the arrival of the cub we are giving the public the chance to name it through auction website eBay. Visit http://www.zoossa.com.au for more information. All money raised with go to Zoos SA conservation programs.
The final name for the lion cub will be at Zoos SA’s discretion.
At this stage Kiamba and her cub will remain off display until they are ready to join the pride, soon after the cub’s eight week health check and hopefully in time for the July School Holidays!
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