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Oldest lioness not yet mellowed
Women would shy away from this one for sure. Jyoti, however, is an exception. She would probably look you in the eye, make your heart skip a beat before she tells you that she has seen more summers than any other lioness in the country.
Jyoti is the oldest lioness in captivity at present in India. Born on December 13, 1978, she was procured from Baroda Zoo and brought to Delhi at the age of two. She turned 23 last December -- a record life span for a lioness bred in captivity. The average life span of a lion in captivity rarely exceeds 18-20 years.
Jyoti, an Afro-Asian hybrid nicknamed ``senior citizen'', is evidently the pride of Delhi Zoo and is also kept on a special diet. She is fed 12 kg of boneless buffalo meat, dressed chicken sterilised by sprinkling hot water, eggs and milk, as she cannot chew thick bones, due to lack of teeth. And like all carnivore in the Zoo, she is kept on a day-long fast on Friday to keep her alimentary system clear and promote the active absorption of vitamins and minerals. Alterations in diet are done under special circumstances to keep her in good shape.
The Delhi Zoo houses two male and two female lions and a 18-month-old cub. According to Zoo officials, Jyoti's enclosure is covered with sack cloth to keep cold winds away during winters and during summers she is provided a cooler. During winters she also provided a heater which does not allow the temperature in the enclosure to fluctuate much.
But Jyoti being a hybrid, has to deal with the disadvantage of not being able to breed. ``Being a hybrid, Jyoti has not been encouraged to breed. And now though she does not have any major ailment she is too weak to walk or stay up for long durations,'' says the Zoo director, B.S. Bonal.
As for the daily regime, Jyoti is taken out for her sun-bath by 9-30 a.m. and is fed by 12-30 p.m. and is then led to her enclosure, where she spends the rest of her time. ``Due to her physical condition, Jyoti needs to be fed small amounts at regular intervals, which gives her enough time to digest and chew her food properly,'' says the director.
To keep the lioness in top physical condition, Jyoti is de-wormed regularly and her enclosure is cleaned and washed with disinfectants. Also, and leftovers are removed immediately to avoid any viral or bacterial infections.
But what makes the lioness a darling of the Zoo is her roar which, according to her keepers, hasn't wavered nor mellowed. ``She is still her strong, aggressive self when approached or when she is annoyed. And her roar is the loudest in the group and gives no inkling of her age. It can make your heart quiver,'' says Mr. Bonal.
By Bindu Jacob
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