Updates From the Zoo's Lion Keepers
May 7
As of today, Naba has reached day 100 of gestation. Her expected due date, based on the average gestation period of 105 days, is May 12. During the past couple of weeks, we have been giving Naba the chance to settle into her very own nursery inside the Lion/Tiger building, which we refer to as the cubbing dens.
Each of the cubbing dens is comprised of two adjoining enclosures. One side resembles Naba’s typical indoor living area (mesh in the front and in the rear of the enclosure with solid walls on the sides, plus a scratching post, water bowl, and food chute), but the adjoining enclosure is a small room that is fully enclosed and has optional floor heating. This small room is bedded with pine shavings and hay, and this is the area that Naba will likely choose to give birth. However, if Naba chooses to give birth in the outer enclosure, we have provided her with a whelping box that is also filled with pine shavings and hay.
In addition to getting Naba settled into her cubbing den, all lions are adjusting to a shift in social pairings. In the wild, Naba would leave the pride to give birth to her cubs in dense brush, and would not return with her cubs until they were about six weeks old. Naba has lived with her younger sister, Shera, since Shera was a cub herself.
A couple of weeks ago we started letting Shera outside with Luke for a few minutes without Naba, and have been increasing their time apart incrementally. At this time, Shera and Naba are spending about four hours apart each day, during which time Shera can be seen outside with Luke while Naba rests inside. At the end of the day, Naba and Shera have been reunited, and Shera has had access to spend the night with Naba in the cubbing den. Starting today, Shera will spend the night apart from Naba, but will be able to visit her at a howdy door (see the April lion update). We will continue to allow Shera to visit Naba through the howdy door during and after the birth of Naba’s cubs. Naba will have the option of carrying her cubs to the door for Shera to see.
When Naba is ready to give birth, we expect to see an increase in mammary swelling, an increase in grooming behavior, and a sudden decrease in appetite. Once the birth appears to be imminent, we will stay around the clock until Naba has safely delivered her cubs, and veterinary staff will be on-call in case medical treatment is needed during the delivery. Cameras have been installed into the cubbing den so that we can monitor Naba carefully as she moves closer to parturition, but without disturbing her.
Read Building a Pride: Part III
