MIAMI – Zoo Miami says a 3-month-old female lion cub has been sent to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore to be hand raised alongside two other cubs of similar age.
The cub was part of an original litter of three, two males and one female, that were born at Zoo Miami on Sept. 24.
Following the death of the first male due to apparent maternal neglect, Zoo Miami said the remaining two were pulled for hand-rearing.
Unfortunately, the second male died late last month from what appeared to be a metabolic imbalance and other symptoms that may have been a result of a congenital anomaly, according to Zoo Miami.
Related: Zoo Miami lion cub dies
Because lions are social by nature, Zoo Miami staff felt that it was important to get the surviving cub into a situation that would expose it to others of its kind on a regular basis.
Institutions with lions were contacted in an effort to find one that was presently raising cubs of a similar age. The hope was that this cub could be introduced to another litter.
"We feel very fortunate to have connected with the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore which has agreed to accept the cub and hopefully be able to introduce it to two other cubs of similar age that are presently being raised there," Zoo Miami said in a statement.
The ultimate goal will be to properly socialize the cub so that she can be successfully introduced into a pride as an adult, the Zoo said.