Christmas cubs turn one - 22/12/11

Bristol Zoo’s twin Asiatic lion cubs turn one this Christmas Eve.

The cubs, a boy and a girl, were born on December 24^th last year to first time mum, Shiva, and dad Kamal. Their birth was a conservation breeding success for these critically endangered animals.

Keepers named the male lion Jayendra, or ‘Jay’ for short, and the female Kalyana, or ‘Kaly’ (pronounced ‘Kally’). Both names are of Indian origin as these cubs are Asiatic lions. Jayendra means lord of victory, and Kalyana means beautiful.

Despite still being relatively young, the cubs have grown quickly. They are now the size of very large dogs - half their adult size - with paws the size of saucers, and Jay has grown a small mane of hair that will get thicker as he matures.

The youngsters weigh around 75kgs (nearly 12 stone), whereas their father, Kamal, weighs a massive 174kgs (over 27 stone). Despite their size, the cubs won’t be fully grown until the age of four.

Assistant Curator of Mammals, Lynsey Bugg, explains: “Jay and Kaly are doing very well and developing into beautiful young adults, which is great to see.

“They might be big but they are still very cub-like and playful. Jay in particular is very boisterous; he likes nothing better than pestering his Dad and jumping on him. Kaly is much more shy and timid, rather like her mum, but both cubs are inquisitive and will come up to the glass to peer at visitors or keepers.”

Bristol Zoo’s staff vet, Rowena Killick, added: “We have been checking the cubs regularly since they were very little, monitoring their body condition in particular, to ensure they have been eating well since they were weaned. We are very pleased with their progress and Shiva is a great mum, letting the cubs eat first and keeping a close eye on them.”

Jay and Kaly can regularly be seen playing in their enclosure among the trees and bushes, clambering over the rocky outcrops and playing in the waterfall and stream. To see photos of the cubs growing up over the past year, click here:

The cubs will be re-homed in other zoos when they are around 18 months old, and will eventually start families of their own as part of the vital breeding programme for this species. The lions will be on long term loan from Bristol Zoo following the recommendations of the European species coordinator for Asiatic lions. It is hoped that Shiva and Kamal will go on to produce more cubs in future.

The arrival of Jay and Kaly was the first time Bristol Zoo has had lion cubs in nearly 10 years. They were born in a quiet cubbing den and the birth was captured by Bristol Zoo on video – an extremely rare occurrence. To watch a video of the cubs’ birth click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLPgKsfyIiM.

You can also watch a video of the cubs at six months old, by clicking here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMjzQXCiymM

Asiatic lions are critically endangered and there are only around 400 left in the wild. Bristol Zoo is part of an internationally co-ordinated conservation breeding programme for this species.

Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on the generous support of the public not only to fund its important work in the zoo, but also its vital conservation and research projects spanning five continents.

To find out more about how to adopt Kamal the adult male lion at Bristol Zoo, visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/animal-adoptions.

ENDS

For press enquiries please contact Bristol Zoo’s press office:

Lucy King, T: 0117 974 7306 or E: lking@bristolzoo.org.uk

Vanessa Hollier, T: 0117 974 7309 or E: vhollier@bristolzoo.org.uk

Notes to the Editor:

Asiatic Lions

• Scientific name: Panthera leopersicus
• Habitat: Grasslands to desert
• Country of Origin: Northern Greece, Southwest Asia, Central India (Now only found in the Gir Forest in India)
• These lions are not from Africa. They are the rare Asiatic lion from India.  There are approximately 400 Asiatic lions remaining in the wild and they are found only in one small game reserve, smaller in area than the New Forest.
• The Asiatic lion was once found in Eastern Europe, Turkey, the Middle East and most of India.  It became extinct in Europe around 100 A.D. and in Palestine around the time of the Crusades.  It remained widespread until the time of the advent of firearms in the mid 1800s, which led to widespread extinction through hunting as a sport.  In 1900, the Nawab of Junagadh, the local ruler, declared the few remaining lions in the Gir Forest protected animals. 
• Asiatic lions live for about 17 years in the wild and up to 24 years in captivity.
• They spend up to 20 hours of every day asleep.
• Like their African cousins, Asian lions are social animals, living in units called prides.  However, the Asiatic pride is much smaller, with an average of only two females compared to the African pride, which has an average of four to six. The males are also less social and only associate with the pride when mating or on a large kill.  It has been suggested that this may be because of the smaller prey available in the Gir Forest.
• Asiatic lions are critically endangered and are part of an internationally co-ordinated conservation breeding programme, managed by Twycross Zoo.
• Shiva the lioness arrived at Bristol Zoo from Besançon Zoo in France in July 2010 as a mate for Kamal.
• Shiva is six years old and these are her first cubs.
• Kamal, Bristol Zoo’s male lion, was born in Helsinki Zoo in September 1994 and arrived at Bristol Zoo in February 2008.
• Shiva has not had cubs before and so the birth is very important to the captive breeding programme for this species. She is proving to be an excellent first-time mother.

Bristol Zoo Gardens

• Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day. 
• Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on income from visitors and supporters to continue its important work. 
• In 2011 Bristol Zoo celebrates its 175^th anniversary and wants to do more than celebrate.
• Over that past 175 years, the Zoo has brought six generations of Bristolians closer to wildlife, helped save over 175 species from extinction, established over 30 field conservation and research programmes all over the world, showed 40 millionschool-aged children the wonder of nature and given more than 90 million visitors a wonderful day out.
• Throughout 2011 we’re bring people, businesses, charities and wildlife together to share amazing experiences that raise awareness and funds to save threatened wildlife and places. To find out more, visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk/whats-on
• Bristol Zoo has supported and been actively in gorilla conservation in Cameroon since 1998.
• Throughout 2011 we will be focusing our efforts on raising funds and awareness in support of gorilla conservation.
• Throughout 2011 Bristol Zoo will support theEuropean Association of Zoos and Aquaria Ape Campaign.The campaign aims to make a significant and lasting contribution to the continued survival of apes and their habitats, and is being led by Dr Bryan Carroll, the Director of Bristol Zoo.
• To find out more about the EAZA Ape Campaign visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/conservation-campaigns.
• Bristol Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species. 
• Itemploys over 150 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work. 
• Bristol Zoo supports – through finance and skill sharing - 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
• In 2010 Bristol Zoo Gardens set up a Conservation Fund to raise vital funds to help care for threatened animals and plants – both in the Zoo and through the conservation work we do in the UK and around the world.
• Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.