Chessington Zoo Asian Lion birth.

P

Pertinax

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
An Asian Lion cub was born at Chessington two weeks ago, according to a sign on their Lion enclosure. This is the female 'Kalinga's first birth but she is rearing the cub.

The father 'Ashok' was born at Chester, does anyone know where their female 'Kalinga' came from?
 
Kalinga came from Terra Natura Zoo and Waterpark in Benidorm, and was 5 years old when she arrived at Chessington.

I'm sure there are birth defects coming from Ashok, as the 3 cubs born to him and Devika in 2003/4 all had to be euthanised due to abnornal skull sizes and that they where having continuing fits.
 
Paul could there be some traits coming from Asoka aswell?
With all of the cubs born to him and Asha having problems with the legs wasnt it? - Could this be some sort of result of inbreeding allready?
Or is it just really bad luck that the cubs have turned out like this.
 
Possibly, although it is only Ashok and Asoka who have bred with the two lionesses from paignton (asha and devika-now dead) The chessington cubs born in 2005/6 died from their skulls being too large for their head and fitting. They where the only set of cubs born to ashok and devika, and she died shortly after from an illness, so it was hard to determine whether it was heridatory with that pair or just bad luck.

I think with Asha and Asoka, its been bad luck
 
Thanks for that Paul.
I was just wondering as it seems to be quite alot for cubs born to two brothers.
 
Its only been 4 cubs that have died (3 at chessington, and 1 at chester-Chakra), Tejas (the first cub) made a full recovery
 
3 litters.....

one born early 2007, born outside but died
2nd ... Tejas
3rd... Chakra (put to sleep January 09)
 
Riziki said:
I thought Asha and Asoka had other litters that didnt work out?
Click to expand...

Quite right, I think she has one litter before tejas (not sure on numbers) then Tejas had a brother.

She also I believe had more than one cub in her recent litter but they only saw one leave the den.
 
Paulkarli08 said:
Is there anymore news on the lion cub?
Click to expand...

I believe the cub died not long after this thread was started but not sure what of.

As for Devika and Ashok at Chessington well I was Senior Carnivore Keeper at the time of their birth and death and it was a very tough thing to see happen.

It was hoped that they would mate again and maybe be third time lucky between them, but sadly Devika died so it was never to be, such a shame as she was such a great cat :(
 
Thanks for that info Easytigger.
From your other comments it seems your worked at Chessington for quite some time as your remember the Africans before the Asiatic's Ashok and Devika.
Great to meet some Big Cat Keepers :)
 
Some worrying news. ISIS is listing Chessington as just having 1:0. Has Kalinga left or died? Or is it an ISIS error? :confused:
 
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