Latest news with #EtawahLionSafari
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Hakuna Matata! Etawah Lion Safari caretakers raise ‘Simba cubs' and hope: Abandoned by their mothers, five cubs are being ‘hand-reared' by two caretakers
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.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
City zoo, lion safari to reopen today after two weeks of closure
Lucknow: After about two weeks of closure following bird flu scare, Lucknow zoo and Etawah Lion Safari will reopen for visitors on Thursday. However, the zoos in Kanpur and Gorakhpur will remain closed for yet another week till June 3, as some of the inmates have tested positive for H5N1 ( avian influenza virus). The three zoos in UP, including Gorakhpur, Kanpur and Lucknow zoo and lion safari, were closed for a week on May 14 as a precautionary move, after a tigress, Shakti, died of bird flu in Gorakhpur zoo on May 7. On May 21, the closure was extended for another week, until May 27. While closure of Gorakhpur and Kanpur zoo was extended on Tuesday the decision on reopening Lucknow zoo and lion safari in Etawah was taken on Wednesday. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park Lucknow director Aditi Sharma said: "As per the order from principal chief conservator of forests, wildlife since there are no cases related to bird flu in Lucknow zoo and all the wild animals are healthy and safe, the zoo will reopen on Thursday."
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Bird flu scare: Closure of UP zoos,safari park extended till May 27
Lucknow: The UP govt has extended the closure of three zoos and Etawah Lion Safari for one more week, until May 27, due to bird flu scare in the state. The facilities were to open on May 21, following a temporary closure of one week that was announced on May 14 as a precautionary move after a tigress, Shakti, died of bird flu in Gorakhpur zoo on May 7. Since May 7, four animals – two each in Gorakhpur and Kanpur – have died in the zoos in the state due to the contagion. "The decision was taken for the safety of animals there, as well as people. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed all to follow the guidelines of the Centre and the state govts on priority to prevent the infection from spreading. He has asked for regular sanitisation of zoo premises and monitoring of animals," said minister of state for environment, forest and climate change (independent charge) Arun Kumar Saxena. The Chief Minister had chaired a high-level meeting on May 12, after which the closure order for Gorakhpur, Lucknow and Kanpur zoos and Etawah Lion Safari was issued by the forest department. Gorakhpur zoo has reported three deaths – tigress Shakti, leopardess Mona and she-wolf Bhairavi – since May 7. The viscera of all three animals were sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, for analysis, which confirmed bird flu in the two big cats, while the she-wolf died of old age. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Gorakhpur zoo director Vikas Yadav said: "We have randomly collected samples of our animals and sent them for analysis. The report may come in a day or two. No animal has reported illness after May 8." Kanpur zoo has reported three deaths so far – lion Pataudi, a peacock and a Brahminy duck. NIHSAD, Bhopal, has confirmed bird flu in the lion and peacock while the report for the duck is awaited. "All other animals are healthy now," said Kanpur zoo director Shraddha Yadav. Meanwhile, a team of experts from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) visited Gorakhpur zoo on Tuesday and collected around 30 random samples from animals, transportation vehicles, water resources and other places inside the zoo. The teams also collected samples from outside the zoo premises. The teams will submit the report within 15 days. The team comprised veterinary doctors and pathologists from leading wildlife institutions in the country. Based on the findings, the future course of action for the zoos and safari parks in the state will be determined.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Bird flu scare: All UP zoos, lion safari shut for visitors till May 27
LUCKNOW/GORAKHPUR/KANPUR All zoos in Uttar Pradesh, along with the Etawah Lion Safari, will remain closed for visitors till May 27 as a precautionary measure to ensure that all protocols for H5 avian influenza are followed for the safety of birds and animals, said forest minister Arun K Saxena on Tuesday. Gorakhpur, Lucknow and Kanpur zoos were already shut till May 20 in wake of bird flu deaths but the closure has now been extended. 'The closure of zoos is precautionary, and to ensure all protocols for H5 avian influenza are followed for safety of birds and animals,' said Saxena. The closure of the Shaheed Ashfaq Ullah Khan Zoological Park in Gorakhpur may be extended further said officials. A public notice regarding the indefinite closure has been posted at the zoo entrance. So far, deaths of Tiger 'Keshri', aged over seven years, on March 30, followed by that of a leopard on April 7, Tigress 'Shakti' on May 8, Lion 'Pataudi' on May 15, and a peacock have been confirmed due to bird flu in Gorakhpur and Kanpur zoos. A team formed by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) is on an inspection at Gorakhpur zoo, where the first death was reported. The team includes officials from the animal husbandry department, Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) and officials from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly. On the second day of their investigation, the panel collected random samples from key animals, including a Barbary Lion and two other big cats. Besides, more than 50 environmental samples were collected, including bird droppings, surface swabs, and drinking water sources. Gorakhpur zoo director Vikas Yadav stated that the extended closure is a precautionary measure to prevent any potential outbreak. Meanwhile concerns rose following the discovery of dead crows within the zoo premises. As of Monday evening, the total number of crow deaths on-site rose to nine. Veterinary staff sent the latest samples to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly, for further analysis. Meanwhile, Covid protocols have been implemented in one-kilometre radius around the Kanpur zoo in wake of the avian influenza scare. The action follows the deaths of a lion and a peacock within the past week, prompting concern among local authorities and residents. Additional CMO Dr Rajeshwar Tiwari said Covid protocols have been enforced as avian influenza can be transmitted to humans. 'People must wash their hands regularly, wear face masks, and maintain physical distance,' he said, adding a medical team will monitor the area, examine residents, collect samples where required, and provide medicines as needed. A significant population resides around the zoo. One of the housing projects developed by the Kanpur Development Authority is situated adjacent the zoo's hospital and incineration zone. Many residents living close to the facility have expressed concern and kept their windows shut as a safety measure. Central Zoo Authority (CZA) officials are expected to carry out an inspection of the zoo on Wednesday and likely to recommend additional steps to prevent spread of infection. According to regional forest officer Naved Ikram, no animal deaths were reported on Tuesday. He noted that blood and swab samples from 11 animals have been sent to a laboratory in Bhopal, and the results are expected by Wednesday morning. Samples from zoo staff and water collected from various parts of the zoo have also been submitted for testing. 'At present, the situation appears to be under control,' Ikram said. Two tigresses, Aadya and Pushpa, reportedly consumed only half their usual meal on Tuesday, and their condition is being watched closely by veterinary staff.
New Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
NIHSAD test report confirms bird flu as cause of Asiatic lion Pataudi's death at Kanpur zoo
LUCKNOW: The pathology report of Asiatic lion Pataudi, who died at Kanpur Zoo on Thursday, confirmed H5N1 (Avian Influenza) commonly known as bird flu, to be the cause of the feline's demise. Pataudi was at Ashfaq Ullah Khan Zoo in Gorakhpur and was shifted to Kanpur Zoo for treatment on May 11 after a tigress named Shakti died of bird flu on May 7, causing a state-wide alert. Meanwhile, after test reports from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases(NIHSAD), Bhopal, confirmed bird flu as the cause of Pataudi's death late Thursday night, Kanpur Zoo cremated the tiger in an electric furnace. Samples of the liver, intestines, and saliva were preserved for further tests, and the entire process was video-recorded by the authorities. Notably, the zoos in Lucknow, Kanpur, and Gorakhpur, along with the Etawah Lion Safari, were shut till May 20 amid bird flu concerns.
