FOUR LION CUBS BORN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23134, 5 September 1938, Page 8

FOUR LION CUBS BORN

AUCKLAND ZOO ARRIVALS SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS ONE ROLLED ON BY MOTHER The lioness Trixv at the .Auckland Zoo has given birth to quadruplets. Unfortunately she has since rolled on one and only three remain. Quadruplets were born to the same lioness two years ago. Lions breed well in captivity, but the birth of four cubs in a single litter is extremely unusual, and has seldom been reported from any zoos throughout the world. The normal litter is two, invariably a male and a female, but occasionally three are born, the third often being a weakling. Trixv's surviving cubs are all well. Every care is being taken by zoo officials not to disturb the lioness, for fear that, in anger, she might hurt her offspring. Their father, Victor, has not yet been allowed to join them, and it will be at least a week before they will be on view to the public. Both about 18 years old, Trixy and Victor have spent most of their lives at the zoo. They have had seven litters, two consisting of four cubs, one of three and four of two, a total of 19. A lioness is usually a good mother and takes great cave of her young. Much interest in his family is also generally shown by the father. As parents lions and their consorts are a contrast to tigers and leopards, which are poor parents.