These snow-white lions in winter were born in a Caesarian procedure at a German wild animal park after the pregnancy of their mother went unnoticed.
Twins Niza and Nero are off the critical list after 15 days in intensive care following their birth at the Serengeti Park near Hanover. Keepers didn’t notice that heir mother Brouks, two, was pregnant.
Park veterinary surgeon Dr Michael Boeer said; 'We thought that she had only been playing with the lion. We never cottoned on to the fact that she had actually mated.'
On November 30 a white lion baby was found lying beside Brouks on her straw. It died 48 hours later. 'Brouks lay apathetically in the corner. I suspected that she might still have babies inside her,' added Dr Boeers.
The big cat was carefully sedated and sent with a police blue flashing-light escort to the Veterinary University in Hanover. 'We had no time to lose,´' said Dr Boeers.
There professor Ingo Nolte led a six-man team to successfully bring the lion cubs into the world. They were delivered after a seven-hour operation. Dr Boeers went on; 'They were nearly dead. But we nursed them carefully and they made it.'
White lion babies Niza, left, and Nero are held by keeper Hanze Hamza 13 days after their surprise birth
Nero takes a bites in the nose of veterinarian Michael Booer. They were near death after they were born, but were nursed back to health over the last two weeks
They will be cared for by humans for about four months. Their mum Brouks was 'out of it' at their birth and doesn't' realize she is a mother
They are fed a special formula 10 times a day
Brouks, standing, is here seen next to Snoary and Kotenay
Twins Niza and Nero are off the critical list after 15 days in intensive care following their birth at the Serengeti Park near Hanover. Keepers didn’t notice that heir mother Brouks, two, was pregnant.
Park veterinary surgeon Dr Michael Boeer said; 'We thought that she had only been playing with the lion. We never cottoned on to the fact that she had actually mated.'
On November 30 a white lion baby was found lying beside Brouks on her straw. It died 48 hours later. 'Brouks lay apathetically in the corner. I suspected that she might still have babies inside her,' added Dr Boeers.
The big cat was carefully sedated and sent with a police blue flashing-light escort to the Veterinary University in Hanover. 'We had no time to lose,´' said Dr Boeers.
There professor Ingo Nolte led a six-man team to successfully bring the lion cubs into the world. They were delivered after a seven-hour operation. Dr Boeers went on; 'They were nearly dead. But we nursed them carefully and they made it.'
White lion babies Niza, left, and Nero are held by keeper Hanze Hamza 13 days after their surprise birth
Nero takes a bites in the nose of veterinarian Michael Booer. They were near death after they were born, but were nursed back to health over the last two weeks
They will be cared for by humans for about four months. Their mum Brouks was 'out of it' at their birth and doesn't' realize she is a mother
They are fed a special formula 10 times a day
Brouks, standing, is here seen next to Snoary and Kotenay
