Of all the big cats, only lions live in groups, known as prides. As a result, they form strong bonds within the group that begin at a very early age.
Matt Ware shared this lovely footage with Latest Sightings. He filmed the interaction at South Africa’s Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
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Heart-melting sight
As we join Matt at the sighting, we encounter a scene that makes the heart melt. A mother lion grooms her cub that has seemingly just woken from a nap.
Like all cats, lions take cleanliness very seriously. However, in their case, not only does it enhance hygiene, but it also strengthens the bonds between members of the pride.
Time together
As mom licks her coarse tongue over the cubs, he does his best to be patient. As a youngster, his priorities are food and play.
Meanwhile, in the background, we see that they are not alone. One of the cub’s siblings is seen, along with another lioness.
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Watch & learn
When the lioness finally decides that her precious cub is clean enough, the little one decides to return the favour. Young lions learn much of what they need to know by imitating the adults.
As the cub gets older, it will follow and watch as its mother does what lions do, like patrolling, stalking, and, of course, hunting.
In this way, knowledge is passed from one generation to the next.
Interacting with the world around them
But the adults are not the only ones that cubs learn from. They also learn from one another as they play.
So, the cub goes off to find a willing playmate. For much of the time, their play simulates hunting behaviour.
Or, when they don’t find a willing buddy, cubs are equally content learning from the objects around them.
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Gradual growth
Lions give birth to up to four cubs at a time. Typically, they find a secluded spot to give birth before introducing their offspring to the pride at around 6 weeks old.
Like all mammals, the young cubs’ diet consists entirely of nutrient-rich milk. They start to eat meat at 3 months, becoming fully weaned at 10 months old.
It takes a village…
According to researchers, cubs do best when they are raised in large prides. One of the benefits is that there is more milk available, since lionesses do not discriminate among the cubs.
Additionally, they are better protected. In small prides, less than half of cubs reach maturity, while their odds of survival to maturity increase significantly in larger prides.
And, with more siblings to interact with, they develop more harmonious relationships than those in small prides where competition is fiercer.
In the same way it takes a village to raise a child, it truly does take a pride to raise a lion.
