A lion cub was born on 20 November last year at Pairi Daiza zoo, the park announced on Thursday.
The lioness cub, born to father Kenya and mother Kira, was naturally conceived and delivered. Both mother and cub are in good health. At birth, the cub weighed 1.09 kilograms. Now, at just over two months old, she weighs nearly 10 kilograms. In mid-January, the park’s team checked her health and administered the first vaccines.
“Our team stays in the background to respect the important bond between the mother and young,” said zoo manager Puria Mahlouji. “The little lioness is still nursed but has also started to eat solid food.”
According to Pairi Daiza, the lion population has seen a dramatic decline globally over the past two centuries. “In the past twelve years, the number of African lions has decreased by 25 percent, from more than 33,000 to around 25,000 individuals,” the Walloon park reported.
Pairi Daiza is now closed, but will reopen on 8 February. However, the visitors will not yet be able to see the cub yet. She must remain indoors to rest for now. The lioness cub has yet to be named and Pairi Daiza is offering the public the opportunity to vote for a name on the zoo’s Facebook page.
