 The Sole Survivor
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Aug. 8, 2003 — A cold snap in Cambodia has claimed the lives of two lion cubs, the first born in captivity in this country, within 48 hours of their birth, zoo officials said Thursday.
Lim Heng, a spokesman for the Kampot Zoo, said a lioness named Champei, which means tropical flower, became the first in Cambodian history to give birth in captivity when she delivered three cubs last weekend.
But he said a cold, wet spell gave two of the cubs hypothermia and veterinarians were unable to treat the animals because Champei guarded her brood zealously.
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"The mother tried to keep them warm by keeping them close to her chest and she became extremely angry when we tried to help," he told AFP. "We had two sleepless nights, then the cubs died."
"It was very sad and we were very sorry," he said.
Heng said that the remaining cub was in a healthy condition and destined for fame as Cambodia's sole surviving lion born in captivity.
"This newborn lion is significant because we just don't have many lions here," he said. Kampot is 150 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Phnom Penh, the nation's capital.
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Name: Lion (Panthera leo)
Primary Classification: Felidae (Cats) Location: India and sub-Saharan Africa. Habitat: Savannah, grasslands and open woodlands. Diet: Mostly large herbivores like wildebeest, zebra, and impala. Also small rodents and reptiles. Size: Up to 8.5 ft in length and 550 lbs in weight. Description: Tawny yellow coat; broad head with rounded ears; muscular shoulders; mature males sport thick manes Cool Facts: It is the only cat that forms longterm social groups. It spends 15 to 20 hours a day resting. During estrus, females mate once every 20 minutes for 5 days. Conservation Status: Vulnerable Major Threat: Habitat loss. What Can I Do?: Visit the African Wildlife Foundation for information on how you can help. |
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