A four-month-old female Asiatic lion cub at Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park has brought fresh excitement to Ranchi after surviving a critical health scare in its first days of life.
Born on 28 November 2025 to Asiatic lion pair Abhay and Sabri, the cub is now stable and under close observation in a nursery enclosure near its mother, officials said on Wednesday.
The birth marks a significant moment for the zoo, whose lion enclosure had remained without big cats after the death of its earlier Asiatic and hybrid lions due to age-related causes. In a bid to revive the enclosure, the zoo had brought Abhay and Sabri from Nandanvan Zoo and Jungle Safari, Raipur, under an animal exchange programme in June last year.
Zoo Director Jabbar Singh said the cub had fallen critically ill about 10 days after birth and had to be separated from its mother for specialised treatment. It was subsequently hand-reared at the zoo hospital under constant supervision.
After months of treatment and monitoring by veterinarians, forest officials, biologists and zoo staff, the cub has regained strength and is now being gradually acclimatised in a protected nursery space close to its mother.
To allow visitors to see the cub without disturbing its care, the zoo has installed a television display linked to CCTV cameras.
Senior forest officials, including Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force Sanjeev Kumar, were present on the occasion.