Fifth generation of lions born at zoo

BEEMERVILLE — Siren, a 10-week-old African Atlas Lion cub, will greet visitors on opening day, Saturday, April 17, at Space Farms Zoo and Museum. Two African Atlas Lion cubs, the fifth generation of lions at the zoo, were born on Jan. 29. The two little lions were three pounds each at birth and now weigh twenty five pounds. Fed an enriched formula of 25 percent fat and 42 percent protein, the little cubs grew fast, quadrupling their birth weight in their first month. “We named the cubs Siren and Ed Growley, for their unusually loud and constant vocalization,” says nursery zoologist Lori Space Day. “I don’t remember cubs being this noisy!” The mother lioness passed away due to complications of birth, necessitating hand rearing. The last time a hand reared African Atlas lion was kept at the zoo was in 1974. Siren will stay at Space Farms Zoo and join the African Atlas lion pride at the zoo this fall. Ed Growley has been placed with another lioness cub in Tampa as part of a genetic diversity program. Siren resides in Pop Pop’s Barnyard Nursery at Space Farms, greeting, growing, growling, and grasping at toys in the green grass. At ten weeks old she is still drinking formula from a bottle and eating venison with her newly emerged teeth. Space Farms received its first African Atlas lion in 1971 as a boarder, however the owner never came back. Fred T. Space arranged for a lioness for his lonely king of the beasts -- the beginning of five generations. Space Farms is located at 218 Route 519 in Beemerville and is open daily from Saturday, April 17 until Oct. 31. Admission is $14 per adult, $9.50 per child and $13 per senior. Group rates and season passes are available. For more information call 973-875-5800 or visit www. spacefarms.com.