Successful Hand Rearing of an Asiatic Lion Cub at Machia Biological Park, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Abstract

Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) once occupying large extent areas in India now at peril, remains in the smaller pocket at Gir National Park, Gujarat, India. This paper summarizes the effectiveness and applied care of the hand-rearing process for Kailash, the Asiatic lion's cub at the Machia Biological Park of Jodhpur and studies the growth pattern of this neonate. Hand-rearing is only an emergency procedure when the mother is not capable or for the left alone cubs, where mother shows no attention. It is a delicate process to grow a neonate. Initial days are of utmost importance for neonates as they are blind with partial control over motor-sensory systems and excretory process, and here comes the importance of hand-rearing in the absence of the mother. Only a few papers are available on hand-rearing of big cat species thus this paper explain the hand-rearing process including housing, diet and nursing, veterinary care and behavioral management of Asiatic lion.