Orphaned lion cub Moto dies suddenly at Mogo zoo

Orphaned lion cub Moto — one of two cubs to survive the death of Mogo zoo lioness Zuri soon after giving birth — has died suddenly.

Five-week-old orphaned lion cub Moto — one of two cubs to survive the death of lioness Zuri soon after giving birth in December at Moga zoo, on the NSW south coast — has died suddenly.

Mogo Wildlife Park keeper Chad Staples tonight said he had picked up his baby lion cub for her next feed and found himself trying to breath life into her lungs after a dramatic seizure in his arms.

Lion cub Moto.

Lion cub Moto.

“Moto was in her baby crib complaining as she normally does if she doesn’t get her milk first before her sister, then things changed for the worst,” the devastated zookeeper said.

“She went into a dramatic seizure and I tried to resuscitate her, to no avail. I pumped her for five minutes and breathed into her mouth and her nose but nothing.”

Moto was one of two healthy cubs born on December 8 at Mogo Zoo.

Their mother, stunning lioness Zuri, suffered significant internal injuries while giving birth to a third cub, which didn’t survive. She died three days later of massive internal injuries.

Mr Staples found comfort in caring for the two adorable cubs, who would not have survived in the wild without their mum.

Zookeeper Chad Staples was the primary carer for lioness Zuri’s two surviving cubs.

Moto and Maji.

He hand-raised Moto and her sister Maji — named after water and fire.

“This is just crushing and unfortunately I may never have the answers,” Mr Staples said, adding the autopsy found no medical reason for her passing.

“It’s one of those things, similar to SIDS in babies, there will probably never be an answer.”

Crocodile Ngukurr, estimated to be about 80 years old, has also died.

In a double blow, at the sister facility Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park on Saturday morning, a 500kg favourite of Mr Staples also died suddenly.

“We are presuming (crocodile) Ngukurr was about 80 … he’s been at the zoo for 30 years,” Mr Staples said.

“He was captured and brought into captivity when crocodiles were being shot, so at least he got to live his life out.”

Just shy of five metres, the much-loved reptile was found to have a large tumour in his stomach.

“Yeah it’s been a really rough week, a rough ride, but it’s the way of animals. Sometimes we have a great ride too.”