Four Asiatic lion cubs born at Vizag zoo

Visakhapatnam: An Asiatic lioness at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park has given birth to four cubs, marking a significant success in the zoo’s conservation breeding programme.

The cubs were born about a month ago and have been under the close maternal care and protection of their mother during the initial critical period, zoo curator G. Mangamma said in a release on Tuesday.

She said the birth was significant as the cubs belong to the Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica), listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Once widely distributed across parts of Asia and the Middle East, the Asiatic Lion now survives in the wild only in and around the Gir landscape of Gujarat.

Compared to African lions, Asiatic lions are slightly smaller and have a distinctive fold of skin along the belly. They are considered an important part of India’s natural heritage.

The birth of four cubs at the zoo marks an encouraging milestone in its conservation breeding efforts and reflects its continued commitment to wildlife conservation, scientific management, animal welfare and protection of threatened species.