The special sighting was captured by Danielle Sheedy in the Kruger National Park.
Lioness and cubs pause for a drink of cool water
The lioness and her cubs were enjoying a peaceful drink of water when the rhinos approached. She was immediately aware of their presence, her ears pricking up to alert.
The rhinos’ massive frames moved steadily toward the water.
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Sensing danger, the lioness immediately sprang to her feet. She watched the rhinos closely, standing between them and her cubs.
A lioness gives birth to a litter of one to four cubs after a gestation period of around 110 days. The cubs are born blind and helpless, and she keeps them hidden for the first few weeks to protect them from predators and even other lions.
She is fiercely protective over them, as this one indicated. She will even move them every few days to avoid detection by scavengers or rival males.
When the cubs are around six to eight weeks old, she introduces them to the pride. Lionesses within a pride often work together to raise cubs, grooming, nursing, and guarding each other’s young in a communal system called alloparenting.
Cubs begin to eat meat at about three months old but continue to nurse until they’re around six months or older. Life is dangerous for young cubs. More than half don’t survive their first year due to threats like starvation, predation, or infanticide by incoming males.
As they grow, the cubs learn vital survival skills by watching and imitating their mother. Here, the cubs copied ‘Mom’, as she chose to evade the rhinos. While the rhinos were possibly just coming down for a drink, the mother wasn’t taking any chances and she was teaching her cubs to show the same vigilance.
Lioness leads cubs away from approaching rhinos
When the rhinos came too close to the mother and her cubs, she chose to flee. With a sharp glance back, she took the lead, dashing to safety.
Her cubs, instinctively followed her lead. They scrambled after her, their small legs working hard to keep up. Though the rhinos meatn no harm and are simply making their way to drink, the lioness doesn’t take any chances.
Lions move safely away from rhinos
The tiny cubs quickly got out of the way of the approaching rhinos. The rhinos appeared to be on a mission, and both the lioness and her cubs were fast in moving out of harm’s way.
One of the little cubs caused splashes in the water as it ran along.
Peace returns to lion family
It was a close call for the little lion family, however, the mother lioness had led by example and all evacuated to safety.
The cubs had learned another life skill from their mother. A lioness teaches her cubs essential life skills by allowing them to observe her hunting and encouraging them to play.
Play-fighting and stalking among cubs help the small animals practice coordination and strength.