A pride of lions - which lost one of its members this week - is 'doing well' according to staff at a Kent animal park.

On Tuesday, Port Lympne confirmed a one-month old lion cub had died in the night.

It was the second cub out of a litter of three born in January to lioness Oudrika which has sadly passed away.

Staff said the little one had wandered outside during freezing temperatures and 'succumbed to the elements very quickly'.

Animal lovers have however disputed these events, and instead say they watched live on the park's 'cub cam' as the baby was suffocated by other lions in its den.

There have also been reports the baby was eaten.

Port Lympne stood by its original statement when asked about the claims.

Bosses added that it would "welcome the opportunity" to review the footage, which it does not have, as the livestream is not saved.

Following a request from KentOnline, Port Lympne, run by the Aspinall Foundation, has today confirmed that the remaining cub and its mother are doing well in the days following the death of the second cub.

The pride is also being monitored closely.

A spokesman also confirmed a short clip was received by the park, but it does "not shed any light" on the claims.

A spokesman said: "Oudrika, her cub and the pride are doing well.

"They are being monitored closely.

"A single very short clip was forwarded on to us by a news agency. Sadly it does not shed any light and we have asked for additional footage should it become available."

The three cubs born in January have been raised alongside their three siblings, which were born at Port Lympne in 2019.

They were the first lions to be born at the animal park near Hythe in 10 years.

As well as criticism over the cub's death, Port Lympne has been inundated with messages of support for the work it does and its dedicated staff.

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