Simba and Suri beat the odds after months of care at Thiruvananthapuram Zoo

Thiruvananthapuram: After a difficult start to life, lion cubs Simba and Suri are finally on the road to recovery. The cubs, born to lions Nyla and Leo at the zoo on January 21, have now been shifted to specially prepared enclosures after months of intensive care.

The cubs faced health complications from birth. For nearly 10 days, they did not open their eyes, while Nyla's insufficient milk supply made it difficult for them to feed. As a result, both cubs lost weight and were admitted to the zoo hospital for specialised treatment.

Under the care of Zoo Veterinary Surgeon Dr Nikesh Kiran, Livestock Inspectors Gijo and Nahas, and Animal Keeper Anil, the cubs gradually regained strength. Since they could not be nursed by their mother, they were fed Royal Canin milk formula imported from France.

As their condition improved, Simba and Suri were taken out of the incubator and bottle-fed every 6 hours. Once they opened their eyes, the zoo's animal care team effectively became their surrogate parents, providing round-the-clock care.

At birth, the male cub weighed 1.85 kg, while the female weighed 1.65 kg. Their weight steadily increased during the first month. However, the female cub later suffered a drop in blood sugar levels, causing another health setback. Both cubs subsequently spent nearly three months in the nursery established at the zoo hospital, where they received continuous monitoring and expert care.

Following months of dedicated treatment, Simba and Suri have now made a full recovery and have been moved to specially designed enclosures.

A video showing the cubs being cared for by zoo staff recently went viral on social media. A photograph of Minister O.J. Jineesh visiting Simba and Suri also attracted widespread attention.

Zoo Superintendent T.V. Anil Kumar said that if the cubs continue to remain in good health, the zoo hopes to open their enclosure to visitors during the Onam season.