Mumbai: Three lion cubs were born on the night of January 13 at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). All are healthy, said a press release from the national park authorities. The cubs were born to lioness Bharati and lion Manas. Both of them were brought from the Sakharbaug Zoo, Junagadh, Gujarat, as part of an exchange programme.Last year, a lioness, Mansi, gave birth to a female cub.Currently, SGNP is home to 13 tigers and 5 lions, while more than 50 leopards roam freely within the park limits, one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. SGNP is one of the most unique urban forests in the world, surrounded by a metropolitan city with over 12.4 million (2011 census) inhabitants.Anita Patil, Director, SGNP, said it was a proud and encouraging moment for the park. “Such milestones strengthen our efforts to conserve endangered species while fostering awareness among citizens,” she said.
