Despite being social animals, lionesses lose an alarmingly high proportion of their offspring. In this footage, a lioness is forced to leave her deceased cub, as other duties demand her attention.
Murray Graham submitted this heartbreaking footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it near the junction of the S25 and S26, in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
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Lone lioness
As Murray’s video begins, we see a lone lioness emerge between two parked vehicles. Lion sightings often attract many tourists, eager to see Africa’s largest predator.
However, habituated as she is to tourist vehicles, the lioness pays them no mind as she crosses the road. As we’ll soon see, she has other things on her mind.
Subsequently, she passes within a couple of metres of Murray’s vehicle. She is in excellent condition, although we get the sense that something is bothering her.
Lions are social cats, living in prides of up to 50 members. The only time they leave the pride for any length of time is to give birth.
A sinister realisation
As she reaches the other side of the road, she veers towards an object lying on the ground. Our first instinct is to wonder whether she has found something to eat.
Clearly interested, the lioness lowers her head as she walks towards it. While she does, a sinister realisation dawns.
When we get a closer look at the object, we see that it shares the lioness’s tawny colour. As we realise what she has found, our hearts sink.
Last rites
As Murray zooms in, we can clearly see that it is a dead lion cub. For several seconds, the lioness sniffs at the motionless body.
It is as if she is making certain there are no signs of life. Unfortunately, her tender nuzzling elicits no response.
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Few survive
As she lifts her head from her dead cub, we wonder what happened. Unfortunately, cub mortality rates amongst lions are high, with roughly 70% of cubs not surviving to their second year.
Sadly, the leading cause of death amongst cubs is other lions. This typically happens when new males take over a pride.
By killing any cubs found, the males force the females into estrus. Consequently, they can sire their own offspring without spending energy on the progeny of their predecessors. Other causes include predation, illness, and starvation.
Silver lining
As sad as it is, as the video progresses, we see she has cause for hope. Having accepted her cub’s fate, she prepares to leave.
As she does, we catch a glimpse of another tawny shape.
Subsequently, as she moves to the side, we see a second cub. And this one is very much alive.
As Murray’s video ends, Mum nuzzles her remaining cub, as if to comfort it. With her priorities adjusted, the pair sets off into an uncertain future.