DADDY’S PRIDE
It’s a Father’s Day story to make your heart soar — how Wallace the lion broke all the laws of the jungle to raise his son alone after Mummy passed away
AS any dad knows, it’s not easy to do the lion’s share of the childcare when you don’t have any help from Mum.
There’s the job of disciplining unruly tots, keeping them looking clean and teaching them the skills they need in life. But when african lion Wallace lost his mate Rachel suddenly from a stroke when their only cub, Khari, was just seven months old, he took over the parenting duties.
adult male lions are not known for their tolerance of younger members of their pride — or, for that matter, getting their paws dirty when it comes to childcare.
yet Wallace amazed his keepers at Blackpool Zoo by stepping into the breach — and showing incredible devotion and patience looking after his cub. On the eve of Father’s Day, we reveal the father-son bond that will touch every heart ...
GET READY FOR PLAYTIME . . .
Male lions are usually not exactly hands-on dads. They leave all the hard work to the womenfolk: both childcare and hunting. That said, they do actually stick around, which is more than can be said for most male cats, who clear off once the mating is over.
Cubs are born blind and unable to walk for the first few weeks. and while lionesses are the main teachers, allowing growing cubs to pounce and chase their tails in preparation for real life, lion dads will also allow their offspring to jump on them and stalk them.
However, they tend to have a much shorter fuse than the mums — often swatting mischievous youngsters away with their giant paws, or snarling at them when their patience wears thin.
Dads show their true colours, however, when their cubs are under attack from hyenas or rival male lions. They will fight to the death to defend them.
TRAGEDY STRIKES AT CHRISTMAS
RaCHel and Wallace, both bred in captivity in the UK, had been together for nine years.
Khari, whose name means ‘like a king’ in Swahili — was one of just two cubs born to the couple. His twin, with birth defects, lived only a few days. This meant that Rachel, who, at 14, was old for a first-time mother, was devoted to her only baby and spent all her time grooming and playing with him.
But then on the morning of Christmas eve in 2015, when Khari was just seven months old, her keepers found the lioness lying on her side. adam Kenyon, head of mammals at the zoo, told the Mail: ‘We knew something was wrong because usually Rachel would be up and about by that time, grooming Khari or playing with him.
‘She did not get up as usual when we called her name. Khari was very confused and was sitting in the corner.’ Heartbreakingly, by the time the vets arrived, she had died of a massive stroke.
WALLACE STEPS INTO THE BREACH
aS THe only lioness at the zoo, it was feared that Rachel’s loss would leave a huge void in her cub’s life. But it was then that Wallace amazed the keepers by stepping up into her role.
adam says: ‘Wallace had already sired three cubs with other lionesses, so he knew the drill when we put him together with Khari when he was old enough.
‘When he set eyes on him, Khari looked up at his dad as if to say: “Ooh, he’s got a such a big mane.” Wallace, who has always been pretty laid-back, gave him a sniff and waltzed off.’
at first, adam says Wallace’s mood changed when Rachel died. ‘He had to get used to the idea she was gone. His subdued body language, and the fact he wanted to be on his own, seemed to indicate he knew something was wrong.’
But after a few days, he rallied, and started to take an active interest in his cub. ‘Wallace started grooming and licking Khari more — a job Rachel would have done. He responded when Khari wanted to rub heads.
‘Khari used to sleep snuggled up next to Rachel, but right away he was snuggling up next to his dad instead. It was a huge relief to see Wallace taking over the parenting.
‘We could have done all the feeding and caring for Khari, but you really need a lion to teach a cub how to be a lion.’