Three lion cubs were born in captivity in Sepahijal Zoo which is located inside Sipahijala Wildlife Sanctuary in Bishalgarh sub-division of Tripura.
The zoo in-charge, Naresh Jamatia said the captive breeding of the lion cubs was another feather to the Sepahijala Zoo which had facilitated successful captive breeding of clouded leopard, python and horn bill earlier.
The sanctuary is known for treasure trove of primates, clouded leopard, reptiles, a variety of birds and other animals. The new-born lion cubs have added attraction to the sanctuary’s.
The cubs are growing fast and are quite healthy according to the zoo authority.
Though every day hundreds of visitors flock sanctuary and the zoo, however, the cubs are being kept away from public viewing.
Caretaker of the cubs Farid Khan said that two of the cubs were male and the zoo authority as a precaution has kept them away from them from their parents especially the male lion and in a separate enclosure where no visitors are not allowed.
By this time they are no longer dependent only on suckling of milk from their mother, but have also started eating meat.
On Sunday for the first time, media persons were allowed to be click photographs of the cubs.
Set up in 1972, the 18.53 square kilometers sanctuary has five sections: carnivores, primates, ungulates, reptiles, and aviary.
About 150 species of birds reside in the sanctuary and a large number of migratory birds are regular visitors during the winter. At present, with its natural botanical and zoological gardens, the sanctuary has developed both as a wildlife sanctuary as well as academic and research center.