Lion rescued from Syrian zoo gives birth in Jordan reserve
SOUF ( Jordan): The odds had been stacked against Hajar, a lion cub born just hours after her mother Dana, rescued from a defunct zoo in war-torn Syria, was released into a wildlife reserve in Jordan.
Dana and 12 other animals had barely survived under harsh conditions in Aleppo, until a few months ago. They were transported from Syria to Turkey and then to Jordan by the international animal charity Four Paws. They only arrived at the al-Ma’wa Wildlife Reserve in northern Jordan on Friday.
Dr Amir Khalil, a vet who accompanied the animals, said on Sunday that he had been worried during the transport that Dana would give birth while in a cage.
Instead, Hajar was born sometime in the night from Friday to Saturday, in the wooded reserve.
Dr Amir said he believes the lioness waited for a safe space to give birth.
“She is a mum, she had the instinct. It’s a miracle,” he said. The gender is still unknown.
An ultrasound performed on Dana during the stopover in Turkey showed that she carried two cubs.
Dr Amir said it’s unclear whether the second cub is still waiting to be born or whether it was born dead close to the time of Hajar’s birth and was eaten by the mother.
The vet said the team will wait for a possible second birth and, if that hasn’t happened, conduct an ultrasound to determine the next step.