When a lioness mother gave birth to a lion cub, Kreme, at the age of 15, she was virtually an elderly woman by lion standards. The lioness passed seven months later, on Xmas Eve morning.
The zoo’s personnel were particularly concerned about the lion cub’s fate. In the wild, the lionesses are solely responsible for the care of their pups; males are not involved in any manner.
Willow, Kreme’s father, was promptly sent.
The keepers were taken aback when he began cleaning, licking, and responding to attention in the manner of a mother.
Kreme, who had before preferred to sleep curled up next to his mother, began to do the same with his father.
‘We were relieved to see Willow taking up the responsibility of raising his son,’ Kenyon adds. The caretakers could generally nurture a lion cub, but they were relieved that the lion had parental feelings.
The zoo explains, ‘In order to raise a lion, you need a lion.’ For months, Kreme and Willow were inseparable.
Papa Willow was calm and assertive when necessary. Amazing isn’t it? What do you think?
