First look at lion cub born at bushfire-affected Mogo Zoo
Mogo Zoo, which was caught up in bushfire crisis on the state’s south coast on New Year’s Eve, can now proudly reveal the birth of their newest addition, a three-week-old lion cub who has survived the bushfire ordeal.
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The iconic south coast zoo has made headlines during the raging bushfires for a zookeeper’s daring effort to save flames from the doorstep but little did everyone realise a miracle was unfolding.
While Mogo Zoo zookeeper Chad Staples was putting out spot fires along the property’s perimeter last week, he was constantly thinking about the newly-born lion cub, held up in its mother’s den.
The zoo can now proudly reveal the birth of their newest addition, a three-week-old lion cub who has survived a bushfire ordeal and is healthy and happy snuggled up to its mum ‘Chitwah’.
“This is just such a blessing, I can’t begin to explain how excited we are about our new cub,” Mr Staples told The Sunday Telegraph.
“It is doing amazing and growing so quickly.”
The cub is the seventh lion to be born at Mogo Zoo — its mother was the last born, in 2018.
“Chitwah has been absolutely amazing. She very rarely leaves the cub besides going outside and looking in the enclosure and she still goes out and sees the male,” he said.
“The cub was the only one born of the litter so it has all the attention to itself.”
Mogo Zoo is home to about 200 animals, with the largest collection of primates, as well as zebras, white rhinos, lions, tigers and giraffes.
Mr Staples confirmed no animals were injured after staff fought spot fires and flames for over three hours.
“Every single animal was protected, all of our larger animals went into the night houses where they were safe with food and water,” he said.
“We are past the worst of it now but we still don’t have the power back on yet although we will be opening very soon.
“We’re just trying really hard to get back to normal – it’s our responsibility for the animals, they thrive off routine and normality.”
Originally published as First look at lion cub born at bushfire-affected Mogo Zoo