As any mother will tell you, raising young ones is hard work. Spare a thought for these lionesses as eight energetic cubs test their patience.
Michael Botes submitted this adorable footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while leading a game drive at MalaMala Private Game Reserve in South Africa.
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Hoping to rest
As we join Michael at the sighting, we see a lioness sitting on the lush grass along a riverbank. Nearby, a few of her cubs wrestle playfully.
Like any mom, she’s probably hoping for a few moments to rest. And, like most moms, she probably knows this is asking a lot.
Learning through play
Predictably, those hopes are quickly dashed when the cubs spot her. Excited to see a new “plaything”, the cubs rush over and “attack” her.
Through play, the cubs will learn the numerous skills they will need to become Africa’s apex predator. Even if it is at the expense of their mother’s need for rest.
How about a bath instead?
Her plans thwarted, the lioness snarls briefly as the cubs gambol at her feet. Resigned to the fact that she won’t get to rest, she considers her options.
Subsequently, she decides to make the most of the opportunity. Like any good mom, she knows her cubs need to be kept clean.
Accordingly, she leans down and licks one of the cubs with her massive, coarse tongue. Besides cleaning, grooming also serves to stimulate circulation and strengthen the pride’s bonds.
As she focuses her attention on one cub, the others use her as a climbing frame. Could this be considered multitasking?
Milk dependent
Subsequently, Mom rolls onto her side to give the cubs a chance to suckle on her rich milk. However, it appears the cub on the right has mistaken her ankle for a nipple. Oops!
At birth, cubs are entirely dependent on the pride’s lionesses for nourishment. Cubs will suckle from any lactating female, further cementing pride bonds.
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Sharing the load
Subsequently, another lioness arrives and is warmly greeted by one of the cubs.
In true copycat style, it doesn’t take some of the others long to come “attack” the new arrival.
As cooperative predators, these group behaviours are instinctive.
Co-parenting
Soon, the newly arrived female similarly grooms while her young use her as an obstacle to climb. By sharing the load, some moms can rest while others babysit.
It is in the pride’s interest that as many cubs survive to maturity as is possible. The larger the pride, the larger their territory and the prey they can tackle.
When lionesses give birth close together, the survival rate of cubs improves significantly. When raising cubs alone, over 80% of cubs don’t survive to adulthood.
One hopes that with such patient and devoted mothers looking over them, these cubs live to raise cubs of their own.