Rescued Lions Faring Well; 2 Cubs Born

The 27 African lions rescued in September from deplorable conditions at an Idaho refuge are doing well in newly constructed enclosures at the Wildlife Waystation, a private haven for neglected animals located north of Lake View Terrace, officials there said recently.

Martine Colette, founder and director of the Waystation, said there were two surprises soon after the lions arrived: two females gave birth to cubs.

“That’s right: The 27 lions are now 29 lions,” Colette said. “But I want to stress that these cubs were not the result of any breeding done here. The lions were pregnant long before they came.”

Breeding of animals is prohibited at the Waystation, a nonprofit animal refuge for hundreds of creatures ranging from big cats to exotic birds and reptiles.

In September, Colette was called by federal officials, who planned to raid a poorly maintained lion refuge in Idaho. Lions at the facility were said to be living among piles of refuse and spoiled food.

Colette and a team from the Waystation drove for four days, ‘round the clock, to lead the rescue effort.

Soon after the lions were brought to the Waystation, the cubs were born. They were given African names, Nyeri and Moran, Colette said.

“Everybody is doing just dandy,” she added. “The cubs’ mothers rejected them, however,” which happens frequently when animals are born in captivity, she said. “These animals had a very rough start in life.”

The two new additions to the Waystation family live in new enclosures with other lion cubs brought from Idaho, Colette said.