White lion cubs are new pride
Two new white lion cubs are the pride of the West Midland Safari Park – and showed the scale of success of the breeding programme when they were weighed in by their keepers. Two new white lion cubs are the pride of the West Midland Safari Park – and showed the scale of success of the breeding programme when they were weighed in by their keepers. Although Buto and Willow are cute and cuddly at barely six weeks old, in a few weeks' time they will no longer be able to be handled. The two cubs are the third litter of white lions born at the safari park at Bewdley to three different mothers during the past nine months. New mother Johanne is caring for the cubs well and staff say they are in tip-top condition. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Although Buto and Willow are cute and cuddly at barely six weeks old, in a few weeks' time they will no longer be able to be handled.
The two cubs are the third litter of white lions born at the safari park at Bewdley to three different mothers during the past nine months.
New mother Johanne is caring for the cubs well and staff say they are in tip-top condition.
Their father, named Muboto, has sired all eight cubs born at the park and he can be seen daily in the Kingdom of the White Lions, which forms part of a four-mile all-weather drive through the safari park.
Veterinary nurse Lucy Pearsall devised a unique method of transporting the new cubs to their first weighing session and a traditional wicker shopping basket was found to be the ideal solution.
The cubs weighed in at a combined total of 11.05 kg, only a fraction of their anticipated adult weight of about 200kg each and capable of running at great speed.
There are now 12 white lions in the pride, the only one in the United Kingdom. Buto and Willow will remain in the nursery section for the next few weeks and are expected to make their public debut at the park during the summer.
West Midland Safari Park is currently the subject of an eight part television series being televised on ITV1 Central for Sunday teatime, where cameras capture the valuable work going on behind the scenes at the 200-acre park.
The safari park is regarded as an important centre for its breeding programmes of rare animals including white rhinos, wild hunting dogs, hippos and banteng cattle.
