Three Asian Lion Cubs Born at Rajkot Zoo, Total Population Reaches 20

Rajkot, July 28: Three Asian lion cubs have been born at the Rajkot Zoo, increasing the total number of Asian lions there to 20. Officials announced this news on Tuesday.

After a gestation period of 107 days, the cubs were born on the night of July 22 to the lion ‘Dhananjay’ and the lioness ‘Dharti’. Both the mother and the three cubs are reported to be in good health.

Zoo veterinarians and staff are monitoring the health of the lioness and her cubs around the clock via CCTV.

This new birth comes just over a month after another successful breeding at the Rajkot Zoo, where a lioness named ‘Dhara’ gave birth to three cubs on June 11. In both instances, the mothers and their cubs are said to be healthy.

Officials stated, “The Rajkot Zoo, operated by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, has been developed using modern techniques under the supervision of the Central Zoo Authority of India. As a result, it has become one of the top attractions for tourists in the Saurashtra region. The zoo sees a large influx of visitors during public holidays and festivals, with approximately 700,000 tourists visiting each year.”

They further noted that under the ‘Wildlife Exchange Program’, the Rajkot Zoo has acquired various species of animals and birds from zoos across India to enhance its collection.

The natural forest-like environment of the Rajkot Zoo has proven suitable for breeding Asian lions and white tigers, leading to repeated successful breeding outcomes.

With the recent births, the zoo now houses 20 Asian lions, including four adult males, eight adult females, two young males, and six cubs.

Since the inception of its breeding program, the Rajkot Zoo has welcomed 58 Asian lion cubs. Through the Wildlife Exchange Program, the zoo has provided lions to various institutions in exchange for other animal and bird species.

These institutions include zoos in Mysore, Hyderabad, Punjab’s Chhatbir, Lucknow, Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, Kankaria in Ahmedabad, and Sakkerbagh in Junagadh.

Currently, the zoo is home to 614 animals and birds across 70 species.