Idaho Falls Zoo mourns the loss of two lion cubs
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IDAHO FALLS — The Idaho Falls Zoo is mourning the loss of two lion cubs who recently died.
One of the cubs died as the mother, Kimani, was giving birth on April 23 and the other passed away a few moments after birth, according to Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park director David Pennock.
“When this kind of thing happens, it’s always tragic and heartbreaking,” Pennock tells EastIdahoNews.com. “This was the lioness’ first litter and there can be complications the first time around.”
The 13-year-old lioness came to the Idaho Falls Zoo from the San Francisco Zoo in 2009. She was born in 2003. Her age and the fact that this was her first pregnancy could have contributed to the cubs death, according to Pennock.
The breeding of lions at the Idaho Falls Zoo is recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums as part of its “Species Survival Plan for African lions.”
Pennock says workers plan to breed Kimani with their male lion, Dahoma, again and hope for a better outcome.
Both Dahoma and Kimani are currently on exhibit at the Idaho Falls Zoo.