A zoo owner is hand-rearing the two cubs of a lion who died after giving birth.

Damian Aspinall says he will do his best to keep Zemo and Zala alive following Grace’s death at Howletts Wild Animal Park, near Canterbury.

Rangers spotted on video footage that Grace had been in discomfort overnight, with the veterinary team taking action straight away.

However, the feline was unable to regain her strength and later in the day died with mate Khari by her side.

But the zoo’s owner, Damian Aspinall, has revealed he is hand-rearing the cubs and has been posting updates about their progress over the past couple of days.

“I was handed these two beautiful five-day-old lion cubs yesterday as the mother died after giving birth,” he wrote.

“I have named the male Zemo and his sister Zala.

“The first two weeks are always the most difficult but we will do our best to keep them alive. “My family will raise them and, when they are old enough, rewild them in Africa like we have done with Azi and Zazu.”

An update this morning says the pair are “doing really well” putting on weight and have passed vetinary health checks.

On Monday, Howletts announced the death of the cubs’ mum Grace.

“What started as a cause for celebration ended in tragedy, due to complications from giving birth,” a statement reads.

“To say Grace will be dearly missed is an understatement.

“Whilst it is always sad when an animal in our care passes away, from the day she arrived, Grace's character made her stand out and she quickly became a favourite amongst her keepers.

“Always happy to see us, Grace would immediately come to say hello the moment we called her name.”

The post went on to say the team at Howletts were so excited when they found out Grace was pregnant, and the lioness’ calm demeanour made them confident she would be a great mother, but it was not to be.

The statement continued: “She was able to nurse her two cubs before she passed. They are now having to be hand-reared and, so far, are doing really well. We will provide updates on their development in due course.

“In the meantime, on behalf of the whole carnivore team, we would like to thank you for all of your support and would be very grateful if you could share any photos and stories you may have of Grace.”

Damian Aspinall has previously said he would happily see Howletts and Port Lympne shut, or turned into rescue centres, if it meant their animals living wild.

His father Aspinall Snr established Howletts as a private zoo in 1957 before opening to the public in 1975.

The following year Port Lympne welcomed its first visitors.