This World Lion Day (August 10), the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) in Visakhapatnam is optimistic about its number of Asiatic lions, currently two, going up in the near future. Zoo officials say its Asiatic lion pair — 12-year-old male Patwad and 4.5-year-old female Kumari, also known as Maheswari — are ready to breed and bring cubs into the world.Zoo curator G Mangamma says the lion and lioness, brought to IGZP in 2019 and 2023, respectively have adapted well to each other.“Patwad and Kumari are often seen lounging together in the shade, playfully nudging each other and enjoying their space side by side,” she says.Lions typically reach their reproductive maturity between three and four years of age. “With both Patwad and Kumari at breeding age and living harmoniously, the zoo remains optimistic about potential cubs in the future, a significant step towards ensuring the survival of the species,” says Mangamma.Asiatic lions are a critically endangered species. Unlike their African counterparts, Asiatic lions are slightly smaller in size, with a less prominent mane in males and a distinctive fold of skin along their belly.They are mostly confined to Gir forest in Gujarat, with a few living under specialised conservation breeding programmes in zoological parks like the one in Visakhapatnam.“We are hopeful that the lions would breed also because of the care we are giving them in terms of nutrition,” says Mangamma. The two Asiatic lions are fed around 1.5 kg of dressed chicken, along with half a litre of milk and raw eggs, as part of their morning feed. In the evening they are given 6 to 8 kg of beef enriched with liver. “The quality of the feed is thoroughly checked by the veterinarian before being served to ensure it meets all safety and nutritional standards.”Story continues below this adThe Vizag zoo has an adoption programme for animals. The zoo encourages wildlife enthusiasts to adopt animals of their choice.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Hyderabad