Lioness Sarita had given birth to four cubs on August 21 morning, of which three were females. Forest officials said that the two cubs died as Sarita did not feed them even 12 hours after birth.
The veterinary doctors of Porbandar forest department and Sakkarbaug Zoo, who were observing the cubs, saw that two of them were weaker. After the physical verification, the doctors feed them powdered milk. However, they couldn’t survive.
The bodies of these two cubs were sent for postmortem while two other newborns were sent to Sakkarbaug Zoo for proper treatment and care.
Earlier on April 1 too, Sarita had given birth to two cubs in the gene pool centre in captive breeding. However, the cubs died after were injured when she was carrying the newborn cub in her mouth. postmortem report had revealed that one of the cubs had received injury on the chest while other on the head.
Talking to TOI, chief conservator of forest (CCF) DT Vasavda said, “We are also considering replacing Sarita in the gene pool after the two back-to-back incidents. We have captured the lioness from the wild and if required, she will be again release into the forest again.”
The cubs sent to Sakkarbaug Zoo will be brought to gene pool once their condition stabalizes in few months.
In May, lioness Parvati had also died in the same gene pool because of pregnancy-related issues.
The gene pool in Barda was created in 2014 after the experts’ opinion that inbreeding and loss of genetic variation may decrease the ability of wild population to adapt to climate changes and make them vulnerable to new disease, parasites and pollutants. The gene pool is a long-term measure to help conserve genetic diversity of Asiatic lions. The gene pool is aimed to monitor and create healthy specimens of lions.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/two-lion-cubs-of-barda-gene-pool-die-hours-after-birth/articleshow/70810980.cms
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