Abstract

The African lion (Panthera leo) is a well-represented species in zoological institutions worldwide. When lions are kept in permanent captivity, situations may arise that necessitate assisted rearing of newborns. Since the early days of assisted rearing, the American Zoo Association (AZA), through its 1982 book Infant Diet Care Notebook, emphasized that the decision to hand-rear an animal must be carefully evaluated by zoo personnel, considering that each situation is unique and should be assessed individually. This document describes the practices used for the assisted rearing of 31 lion cubs in captivity until weaning, at approximately 3 months of age. During this period, satisfactory methods were developed, resulting in the successful rearing of healthy cubs.

Keywords

Panthera leo, African lion, assisted rearing, lion cub