A Queensland zoo has welcomed a new cub, Caesar, into its pride. Caesar, an African lion cub, was born at the Darling Downs Zoo in Pilton, west of Brisbane, 10 weeks ago and is already working on his roar.
His 13-year-old mother Sassy’s pregnancy came as a surprise to her handlers, who thought her mother was way past breeding. Caesar’s entrance into the world proved even more dramatic for the staff looking after the big cats.
Most lionesses give birth to two to four cubs in a litter, but Caesar was an only cub and was brought into the world via a Caesarion section. After the procedure, his mother was unable to produce milk, so the hard decision to hand raise the cub was made.
Caesar is now closer to 8kg and needs lots of stimulation and attention, according to his foster mum. Caesar joins a long lineage for the zoo, marking the 15th generation of lions born in Australia.
The main focus at the moment is helping Caesar grow and assimilate, as well as teaching him that he is a lion. The plan when he is older is to incorporate him with his family, but it does take time. For now, Caesar will slowly get familiarized with people and the zoo before he can be seen by members of the public and show off his roar.
Photo credit: 7 News
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