A little lion cub at Safari Aitana is facing a much bigger challenge than most animals her age.
Grapas is just over a month old and currently has limited movement in her back legs. Her keepers are working with her every day in the hope that she will eventually learn to walk normally.
The young lioness suffered an injury when she was only one day old following an incident with her first-time mother.
The accident left fang marks around her hips and affected the movement of her hind legs.
Small signs of progress
At first, Grapas could not move her back legs at all.
Since then, her keepers have noticed encouraging changes. She started moving her toes, followed by movement around her ankles. Her posture has also gradually improved.
The team now wants to help her brain and body coordinate movements she has never had the chance to use properly.
Grapas exercises in a swimming pool, where the water helps her move her legs more easily. Her keepers also use a harness to support her while encouraging the movements involved in walking.
An animal physiotherapist visits once a week and uses several techniques as part of her treatment, including acupuncture.
Sister Enya provides extra encouragement
Grapas also has some four-legged encouragement from her sister, Enya.
The two cubs were born together and remain closely bonded.
When Grapas watches Enya walking and playing, she tries to copy her movements. Her keepers believe that stimulation forms an important part of the rehabilitation process.
Because Grapas currently pulls herself along with her front legs, she has developed considerable strength in the front of her body.
Her keepers say she has also started to regain muscle in her hindquarters.
Their long-term hope is that Grapas and Enya can grow up together and eventually rejoin the rest of the lions.
Safari Aitana currently has 14 lions.
Scan could provide more answers
The next important stage will involve an MRI scan at the veterinary university at CEU San Pablo.
The scan should give the veterinary team a clearer picture of the injury and help them determine whether Grapas has damage to her spine.
It could also show whether reduced inflammation may allow her movement to continue improving.
For now, nobody knows whether Grapas will eventually walk, run and jump alongside her sister.
What her keepers do know is that she has already regained some movement since those difficult first days. They will continue her daily rehabilitation while watching closely for further progress.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Grapas is a lion cub at Safari Aitana on the Costa Blanca.
- She is just over one month old.
- An incident with her mother when she was one day old injured her hindquarters.
- At first, Grapas could not move her back legs.
- She has since started moving her toes and ankles and improving her posture.
- Her rehabilitation includes pool exercises, harness-supported movement and weekly animal physiotherapy.
- Her sister Enya provides additional stimulation by walking and playing alongside her.
- Vets plan an MRI scan at CEU San Pablo to assess the injury more closely.
- Safari Aitana currently has 14 lions.
