Progress Report – Etosha & Cub
Posted at 6:26 pm November 29, 2005 by Marcia ReddingJust a quick update from the Wild Animal Park & Lion Camp! Etosha’s stitches from her caesarean section were removed a few days ago, and she is now home at Lion Camp. She has been kept adjacent to M’bari, her mate, but separated by a mesh divider until everyone is sure she is completely healed. Tomorrow the barrier will be removed and the two lions will be back together. M’bari & Etosha were very glad to see each other when she returned from her hospital stay – there has been lots of grooming and affectionate rubbing through the wire.
Today Etosha & M’bari’s male cub moved from the hospital to the Animal Care Center, where he will continue to be hand reared. As yet he is not on exhibit, but I will post as soon as he is available for viewing. He has been doing well, even though his formula has needed a bit of adjustment.
Both Etosha and her cub are doing just fine! I will be sure to post updates on their progress.
Marcia Redding is a senior mammal keeper at the Wild Animal Park.
Read more about lions and Lion Camp.
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November 29th, 2005 at 8:00 pm
Marcia, thanks so much for the update. I’m so glad both mom and baby are doing well! (And it’s sweet to know that M’bari has enjoyed having Etosha back.)
Will the little guy eventually be re-introduced to mom and the pride? If so, at what age? Thanks again.
November 29th, 2005 at 11:38 pm
Thank you Marcia, for all the wonderful care and love and attention that you have given Etosha and her cub. It is so wonderful to know that they are doing good. It just warms your heart, knowing that wonderful people like yourself and the rest of the staff care so much for the animals….and share the experience with the world. I live in Michigan…but I visit the san diego zoo site every day. I think the staff and the zoo are one of the greatest in the world. The staff are TOP NOTCH AND WONDERFUL
November 30th, 2005 at 6:42 am
Thank you for the update on Etosha and her cub. Glad to hear she is healing well and back with her mate. Will you post a picture of the cub, when appropriate, for those of us too far away to visit in person? Thanks for all the hard work you do!
November 30th, 2005 at 6:56 am
Thanks so much for the update. I am so glad that both of them are doing well.
November 30th, 2005 at 6:59 am
My fifth grade class would like to know why the cub can’t have some contact with the mother. Who will he play with as other cubs do? Isn’t that part of the growing process for lions? Will this affect his adult life? Are Etosha and M’bari mated for life?
November 30th, 2005 at 7:00 am
Can’t wait to see the cub! Thanks for caring for them!
November 30th, 2005 at 7:27 am
Marcia…I’ve been patiently waiting for news regarding Etosha and her cub, as I’m sure everyone else has. As I read your blog, I got a tear in my eye when you described the scene between M’bari and Etosha thru the mesh. He’s probably been wondering where the love of his life had gone. Tomorrow will be such a wonderful day for them when they can snuggle and groom all day long! And our little baby cub is going to get sooo much love and attention in the Animal Care Center. Please encourage someone to take a video of him in there when he is a little bigger and showcase in the video section of the site. Etosha, M’bari and our little cub should thank god every second of every day that they have such WONDERFUL!!! keepers like you around. My thoughts are with them all. Thanks.
November 30th, 2005 at 7:42 am
HOORAY! Thanks so much, Marcia, for the good news! Without you and the wonderful keepers and veterinarians Etosha and the new little boy would not be doing so well. Continued blessings to you all for all you do and for the hope you bring to us every day! Luv to You All, Judy J
November 30th, 2005 at 9:13 am
I am glad to hear that both mother and cub are doing well. Isn’t there some kind of concern that Etosha will go back into estrus because she doesn’t have a cub now. I know that in the wild they say that strange males will kill cubs that are not theirs and that it will bring the females back into heat. Are you guys planning to let her mate again so soon after surgery or no?
December 16th, 2005 at 5:29 am
I’m happy that the mother and cub are doing well. Lion cubs are just so adorable.