Lionesses shoulder the vast majority of parenting duties. As this video shows, amid the tender moments, tempers occasionally flare.
Hannes Joubert sent this video to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while visiting South Africa’s Manyeleti Game Reserve.
Watch the video here:
Family time
As the video rolls, a pair of lionesses appears with numerous cubs clambering about them. By the looks of it, the lionesses have just settled after returning from a hunting expedition.
While they cool off in the shade, the cubs are eager to feed. As two take their place at her belly, others converge.
Over-eager
As one of the cubs clambers clumsily over Mum, we see the first signs of her strained patience. Subsequently, when the cub’s tail flicks her ear, she snarls in annoyance.
Like it or not, to them, she is a mobile milk bar. At this age, they depend entirely on Mum for nourishment, so we can’t blame them.
Are you open?
Seeing that the first female appears “fully occupied”, the cub moves on to the lioness closest to Hannes’s camera. After pride members introduce cubs, the cubs often feed from any lactating female.
The second cub has slightly better manners and greets the female with a gentle muzzle bump.
Meanwhile, the first cub realises that this female has insufficient milk. Accordingly, it moves back to the first lioness.
The second cub then tries to suckle with the same result. Consequently, it too moves over to the other lioness. Now, she has four hungry cubs vying for her milk.
Mealtime intterupted
Throughout the sighting, the lionesses appear to be keeping a close eye on Hannes. Suddenly, somethings seems to irritate the suckling lioness and she rises with a warning snarl.
As a result, the feeding cubs are left mewling as their meal is interrupted. Understandably, the lioness’s first priority is to protect her little ones. Food will have to wait.
Her eyes convey a very clear message: don’t mess with my family or me during dinnertime. For some reason, she then moves off.
Jostling for position
Consequently, the cubs converge on the other lioness. Realising their meal ticket could walk off at any moment, they jostle for position.
The lioness’s face is a picture of drowsy acceptance. However, as one cub struggles to access a teat, it is forced to burrow under its siblings.
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Rich milk = Rapid growth
Obligingly, the lioness rolls over to expose her belly. Now all of the cubs have a place to drink.
Lion milk is very nutritious, with high levels of fat and protein. With each cub consuming up to a litre per day, they grow rapidly during the 6-8 month period that they suckle. They will start eating meat at three months, and are fully weaned by 8-10 months.
Cooperative Rearing
Lionesses frequently synchronise their breeding cycle. As we see in the video, this means that they can then work cooperatively to raise their young.
By doing so, they increase the survival rate of the cubs and strengthen bonds within the pride. Therefore, should anything happen to one of the adults, there are always others there to see the cubs through to maturity.