Daegu Zoo’s rare white lion siblings, Luka and Luna, are preparing for their independence following round-the-clock hand-rearing by zookeepers, according to an appearance by zookeepers Jeon Geun-bae and Jeong Sang-yong on the January 29 broadcast of tvN’s You Quiz on the Block. The cubs, born in August, have captured significant online popularity, but their path to independence highlights a difficult history involving their parents’ rescue from a defunct indoor facility.
Rescue History and Artificial Rearing of the White Lion Cubs
The parents of Luka and Luna spent seven years confined in a dark basement without natural light or fresh air before being rescued after their facility went bankrupt during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to zookeepers on the tvN program. Following their rescue, the adult lions produced offspring, but showed no maternal interest when the litter was born during heavy rain in August. Zookeepers intervened with artificial rearing after noticing the newborns lying ignored in the mud, which posed a severe risk of hypothermia.
The litter originally included a third sibling named Lucy, who was born significantly smaller and weaker than the others. Despite veterinary interventions, Lucy died 13 days after birth. Zookeepers Jeon and Jeong subsequently maintained a 24-hour watch over Luka and Luna, feeding them formula every two to three hours and stimulating bowel movements, much like human infant care.
Housing Separation and Keeper Challenges
The white lion siblings are now transitioning out of round-the-clock keeper care and preparing for permanent separation into a dedicated enclosure. According to the zookeepers, hand-reared big cats typically bond with their human caretakers for up to one year before requiring independent spaces. The cubs will not be housed with their biological parents because neither the adult lions nor the cubs recognize each other due to the separation at birth and the cubs’ human upbringing. Construction is currently underway on a new enclosure situated directly next to the adult lions’ habitat.
The broadcast also detailed the physical hazards faced by professional animal caretakers handling large mammals and predators. Zookeepers noted that injuries to the legs and calves are common across both predatory and aggressive herbivorous species. Furthermore, one zookeeper recounted a severe past incident involving a venomous snakebite that damaged finger tissue early in their career, underscoring the daily occupational hazards of zoo management.
Rarity of White Lions in Captivity
White lions possess a rare genetic variation caused by a recessive mutation that results in pale or white fur. According to wildlife records noted by the program, approximately 200 white lions remain worldwide, making captive breeding and conservation monitoring critical for maintaining awareness of the distinct genetic subgroup.
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