LONGEST SURVIVING LIONESS RAJMATA DIES AT 20.
Legendary Lioness Rajmata, Aged 20 Years And The Longest Surviving Subspecie In Asia, Breathed Her Last On Saturday. Her Last Rites Were Held On Sunday At Vadal Animal Care Centre Near Palitana Apart From Her Age, What Surprised The Animal Kingdom Were Her Pregnancies. She Also Holds The Record Among Asiatic Lions For Having Given Birth To 15 Cubs In Seven Litters.
In Fact, The Existing Population In Amreli's Liliya Kakrach Of 50-60 Lions, Lionesses And Cubs Is Believed To Be Her Progeny.
“The Maximum Life Span Of Asiatic Lions Is Usually About 16 Years. Rajmata Was An Exception. She Lived For 20 Years And Had Seven Litters,” Said Y V Jhala, Senior Researcher With Wildlife Institute Of India. He Had Radio Collared The Lioness In 2008 For Research In Greater Gir. Nisha Raj, District Forest Official (DFO) Shetrunjay Wildlife Division, Confirmed The Death Of Rajmata And Said She Was Cremated As Per Protocol. She Died Of Old Age, Said Raj.
Jalpan Rupapara And Purvesh Kacha, Two Doctors Who Have Closely Studied Rajmata Along With Other Lion Population In Greater Gir Region, Said Her Last Offspring Was In 2018. Rajmata Started Failing In Her Health After Her Youngest Progeny Went Missing In The Very Same Year. The Cub Is Believed To Have Fallen Prey To Cannibalism.
“Barring Her First Litter, We Have Witnessed Rest Six Litters During Our Study. In Her First, Second And Third Pregnancy, She Had Given Birth To Three Cubs In Each Litter,” According To Rupapara. In The Fourth And Fifth Pregnancy, She Had Given Birth To Two Cubs Each, Said Kacha.
In The Last Two Pregnancies, Rajmata Gave Birth To One Cub Each But Both Did Not Survive Long As They Fell Prey To Cannibalism.
Rajmata Was Sharp Enough To Avoid Being Captured.
She Was Given The Name Of Rajmata By The Locals Due To Her Firm Hold On Her Kingdom. Rajmata Did Not Allow Any Other Lioness To Encroach Her Territory.
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