Hakuna Matata! Etawah Lion Safari caretakers raise ‘Simba cubs' and hope: Abandoned by their mothers, five cubs are being ‘hand-reared' by two caretakers

Time of India

a day ago

LUCKNOW: In Disney's The Lion King, a young Simba is shattered after the tragic death of his father, Mufasa, under whose shadow he had just started getting valuable life lessons. With no parent to guide or protect him, the poor cub wanders in the wild, rudderless and fending for himself, and ends up eating grubs and insects after befriending Timon and Pumbaa, the carefree meerkat and warthog duo who usher in the 'Hakuna Matata' (a Swahili phrase which means 'no worries') phase in his life.
O
ver a thousand kilometres away from the Pride Lands, the jungle in African Savanna where Simba's reel-life unfolds, real-life Asiatic cubs in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah Lion Safari are fortunate enough to revel in their 'Hakuna Matata' moment soon after being abandoned by their mothers. For, they found 'surrogate parents', not in the wild, but in a team of wildlife caretakers who extended a helping hand to save them.
In what is being hailed as a milestone in India's big cat conservation, caretakers at Etawah Lion Safari have successfully hand-reared five abandoned Asiatic lion cubs — a first-of-its-kind achievement for the critically endangered species. The caregivers, led by Etawah Safari director Anil Patel, turned a crisis into conservation success through round-the-clock bottle feeding, nutritional care, and constant medical monitoring of the cubs.
'These cubs are like our children now. Their mothers might have abandoned them, but they were never alone,' says Patel.
Separation & Survival
The journey began on Sept 3, 2023, when lioness Roopa rejected her newborn cub, sired by lion Kanha. Recognising the danger to the cubs' lives, the caretakers initiated an emergency hand-rearing process involving bottle-feeding and regular veterinary care. The cub, affectionately called 'Ajju' (named after one of the caretakers Ajay Singh), has grown into a healthy, active lion nearing 18 months of age.
This success set the precedent for future interventions. On June 1, 2024, two more female cubs — born to Neerja and Kanha — faced a similar fate when their mother abandoned them shortly after birth. Again, the staff stepped in, ensuring their survival through carefully scheduled feeding, lamb broth, and egg whites to supplement essential nutrients. Recently, on April 21, 2025, Roopa gave birth to four cubs, but two tragically died from accidental crushing — a risk not uncommon in captive breeding.
The remaining two were removed and immediately placed under human care. Now, one month old, they are beginning to interact with their keepers, showing signs of good health and behavioural development.
The Men & The Miracle
This conservation feat was achieved by animal keepers Ajay Singh and Asif Ali, who took up the roles of surrogate parents, putting their personal lives on hold to ensure the survival of the cubs. 'Initially, I had to forget about my home, wife, and children.
There were many nights when I couldn't see my family. But when I see these cubs growing healthy and active, I feel it was all worth it,' says Asif. Ajay's dedication earned him the honour of rechristening one of the cubs after him.
'I'm grateful to the Safari for naming one of the cubs 'Ajju'. He is like a part of me now,' he says.
High-tech & Human Touch
These cubs are housed in specially designed enclosures equipped with 24x7 CCTV surveillance. Hygiene is strictly maintained to prevent infections, and the feeding regimen is followed with precision.
Every few hours, the keepers prepare specialised milk formula and proteinrich soups, adjusting the diet according to the development stage of the cubs.
'Asiatic lionesses are highly intelligent and sensitive. If a lioness senses weakness in herself or perceives a threat to the cubs' survival, she abandons them. It's nature's way of focusing on resources — but that's where human intervention becomes crucial,' says the Etawah Safari director.
Veterinarians carry out regular health assessments to track growth, behaviour, and emotional development. 'Ajju now behaves like any other lion of his age. That's how we measure success — when handreared cubs act like those growing under natural conditions,' says one of the safari's veterinary officers.
Setting An Example
With fewer than 700 Asiatic lions left in the wild, primarily in Gujarat's Gir forest, Etawah Safari's achievement is more than a local success.
The safari is now documenting its protocols and experiences to share with other wildlife parks and zoos.
Plans are also underway to expand training for staff in neonatal care for big cats, further strengthening the park's preparedness for future litters. The safari park authorities plan to refine their conservation techniques. Their achievement sets a precedent for similar conservation efforts, particularly in the preservation of endangered big cat species.
The dedication of the staff, combined with scientific approaches to animal care, has created a blueprint for successful wildlife conservation.
Their work contributes significantly to the broader goal of protecting and preserving the Asiatic lion population for future generations.
'This is not just about saving five cubs. It's about proving that with dedication, expertise, and empathy, we can give endangered species a fighting chance,' says Patel. Simba may have walked alone, but in Etawah, the lion cubs walk with pride and grow with a human touch.