[FEL-L] Hybrid Lions Article

[W Tashi]

Lions dying in Indian zoo after failed experiment By
Palash Kumar 
Sun Sep 17, 3:30 AM ET
 


CHANDIGARH, India (Reuters) - Twenty-one lions are
dying in a zoo in north India after a cross-breeding
experiment to boost the park's attractions went
disastrously wrong. 

ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 
In the 1980s officials at the Chhatbir Zoo in the
northern city of Chandigarh, bred captive Asiatic
lions with a pair of African circus animals, resulting
in a hybrid species.

Within a few years it became obvious it had not
worked.

The offspring found it hard to walk, let alone run,
because their hind legs were weak. And by the mid
1990s the big cats -- which live for up to 20 years in
captivity -- showed symptoms of failing immune
systems.

But it wasn't until 2000 that the breeding program was
ended, and the male lions given vasectomies, by which
time the zoo had 70 to 80 such lions.

Their number dwindled slowly, with disease killing
some and some dying of wounds inflicted by other
lions.

Authorities say they are waiting for the population to
"phase out" before they can start breeding pure
Asiatic lions.

"But the effort here is to help them die with
dignity," said Dharminder Sharma, a senior zoo
official. "We give them all the facilities to live a
happy life in their last years. Some of the old lions
are even given boneless meat."

Last year the zoo opened a special enclosure, away
from the main exhibit area, where it keeps lions who
have become too feeble to defend themselves.

It has been dubbed an "old age home" for lions.

Ailing Lakshmi and Lajwanti now live in these sheds,
which have a small caged courtyard.

Both are hybrid and are extremely weak. They can
barely stand up or walk. Their only activity is a
small but painful walk to eat their meals. However, if
challenged, they can still muster a spine-chilling
roar.

In August, Lakshmi stopped eating. Doctors at the zoo
put her on a drip and fed her glucose through water.

"Those were nervous times for us," said Sharma.

"We tried very hard to keep her alive and eventually
succeeded when she slowly started to eat ... Even if
they are meant to die, it doesn't meant we kill them
by not treating them," he added.

Asiatic lions are found only in India and, at present,
there are about 300 of them in the Gir national park
in the western state of Gujarat.

In the mid-20th century, their numbers were less then
15 as they were vigorously hunted by the Maharajas and
princes for whom the majestic animal was the most
coveted game. The population recovered after a
breeding program launched in the Gir sanctuary in the
1960s. 
 		
---------------------------------
 All-new Yahoo! Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.breuckman.com/pipermail/felines-l/attachments/20060919/d462fa4d/attachment.html