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First-time lioness grooms one of five cubs in Zambia’s Kafue National Park
Photographer Mary Schrader captured a first-time lion mother grooming one of her five cubs in Zambia’s Kafue National Park. The cub’s apparent displeasure makes for a striking moment, while the unusually large litter highlights the demands of raising five young.
The cubs were around two to three months old and still dependent on their mother. Schrader said litters of five are relatively uncommon, particularly for a first-time mother, and described watching the lioness repeatedly lick the cub’s head and face.
In short
- A first-time lion mother is raising five cubs.
- The cubs were about two to three months old.
- One cub appeared unimpressed as its mother groomed it.
Explained simply
Kafue National Park is a large wildlife reserve in Zambia, where lions live and raise their young in the wild. Lionesses give birth to litters and care for cubs, which rely on their mother for food and protection in their early months.
A first litter can be a demanding start for a lioness, and caring for five cubs means tending to several young at once. The cubs’ survival depends on their mother’s care as they grow more able to cope on their own.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “First-time mum cleans one of her five cubs (but the little lion doesn’t seem too pleased)”.