First lion cubs by artificial means

Watching the two little lion cubs boisterously play with each other at a conservation centre outside of Pretoria, it is hard to see anything out of the ordinary.

But these cubs are unique. “These are the first-ever lion cubs to be born by means of artificial insemination – the first such pair anywhere in the world,” according to the University of Pretoria, whose scientists are researching the reproductive system of African lionesses.

The two cubs, a male and female born on August 25, are healthy and normal, Andre Ganswindt, director of the university’s mammal research institute, said.

His team’s breakthrough came after 18 months of intensive trials. “We collected sperm from a healthy lion,” he said.

Then when the lioness’s hormone levels were found to be viable, she was inseminated artificially.

“And luckily it was successful,” Ganswindt said.

“There were several attempts, but surprisingly it didn’t take too much effort.”

He said the breakthrough could be repeated, with scientists hoping the technique could be used to save other endangered big cats.

Lions are extinct in 26 African countries and numbers in the wild have plummeted 43% over the last 20 years, with about 20,000 left, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

“If we are not doing something about it, they will face extinction,” Ganswindt said.

He said rather than move the lions for breeding, the new technique would let breeders simply transport the sperm to receptive females.

The findings are part of the research being done by Isabel Callealta, a Spanish veterinarian and PhD student at the University of Pretoria.

The research was carried out at the Ukutula Conservation Centre, 80km northwest of Pretoria.

Imke Lueders, a scientist involved in the study, said: “Having the first lion cubs ever born from artificial insemination in their natural range country, and not in a zoo overseas, is an important milestone for SA.

“Assisted reproduction techniques are another tool in our conservation box, of course not a sole solution, but another technology that we can use to protect endangered species.”

Andre Mentz, a prominent lion breeder in the Free State, described the birth of the cubs as “very revolutionary”.

But animal welfare organisations are less enthused.

“The captive lion breeding industry in South Africa is exploitative and profit-driven,” Mark Jones, of the Born Free Foundation, said.

“It generates its income through interaction activities [lion cub petting and lion walks], canned trophy hunting of lions and the lion skeleton trade, while contributing nothing to lion conservation.”

A group of 18 international and African conservation organisations wrote a letter to the scientists saying they did not support the study, but did acknowledge artificial insemination could help other imperilled wild cats, like the cheetah. –