Bhubaneswar: After five days of labour pain, lioness Bijili finally delivered three cubs at the Nandankanan Zoological Park in the wee hours today.

However, there is a disappointing news for the wildlife lovers that of three, one lion cub was stillborn.

Lioness Bijili gave birth to 3 cubs (2 live and one stillborn). She first delivered the stillborn at 2.43 AM. The second cub was born at 3.12 AM and third at 3.38 AM today, informed the Nandankanan Deputy Director Sanjeet Kumar.

publive-image Lioness Bijili with her cubs at Nandankanan Zoological Park, Bhubaneswar.

The two live cubs are healthy and both the lioness and her babies have been kept under observation, the official said.

Lioness Bijili impregnated with lion Samrat was suffering from labour pain in past five days. The zoo authorities had kept her under surveillance inside safari for her delivery.

Usually, a lioness gives birth within 104 days of conception. Source said that the authorities were eagerly waiting for Bijili's delivery as she had crossed her due date.

Bijili was brought to the Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar from Indore Zoo in Madhya Pradesh on December 20, 2020 to increase the lion population at the wildlife habitat.