The three-week-old African lion cub born at Werribee Open Range Zoo has died after its mother unexpectedly stopped producing milk.
The cub, which had shown promising early development, began exhibiting concerning symptoms including lethargy, weakness and poor weight gain. This prompted an emergency examination under anaesthesia at the zoo’s veterinary hospital on Sunday.
Despite receiving extensive care including fluid therapy and high-density oral supplements, veterinary staff determined there was no chance of recovery and made the difficult decision to euthanise the cub to prevent suffering.
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Werribee Open Range Zoo Director Dr Mark Pilgrim explained the challenges faced by the first-time mother, Asali. “Although the early signs after birth were encouraging, the early life stages of a cub can be quite delicate and present some natural challenges for lionesses. First-time mothers can sometimes experience difficulties with lactation while they navigate the demands of motherhood,” he said.
Zoo staff had monitored the birth and subsequent mother-cub interactions remotely via 24-hour cameras to avoid disturbing the natural bonding process. Intervention was considered a last resort due to the high risk of maternal rejection if the cub was separated from Asali.
A necropsy conducted on Monday confirmed the lack of milk supply was the primary issue. Further tests are expected in coming weeks to rule out any other potential causes of death.
The loss has deeply affected the entire zoo community. “This is an extremely sad time for our entire Zoo community. Our thoughts are with them and all who cared for this precious cub, and especially with our keepers and vets who worked tirelessly to care for the cub,” Dr Pilgrim said.
The zoo had been carefully monitoring Asali throughout her pregnancy and the early weeks of motherhood. Staff had done everything possible to support both mother and cub during this critical period, but the natural challenges of first-time motherhood proved insurmountable.
Werribee Open Range Zoo continues its important conservation work with African lions, a vulnerable species facing population decline in the wild due to habitat loss and human conflict.
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