Lion Cub
by Christy Saunders Church
Title
Lion Cub
Artist
Christy Saunders Church
Medium
Painting - Pastels
Description
Pastel drawing of a lion cub
When first introduced to the rest of the pride, lion cubs lack confidence when confronted with adults other than their mother. They soon begin to immerse themselves in the pride life, however, playing among themselves or attempting to initiate play with the adults.[166] Lionesses with cubs of their own are more likely to be tolerant of another lioness's cubs than lionesses without cubs. Male tolerance of the cubs varies – sometimes a male will patiently let the cubs play with his tail or his mane, whereas another may snarl and bat the cubs away.[167]
File:Lion Cubs Phinda 2011.ogvPlay media
Video of a lioness and her cubs in Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Weaning occurs after six or seven months. Male lions reach maturity at about three years of age and at four to five years are capable of challenging and displacing adult males associated with another pride. They begin to age and weaken at between 10 and 15 years of age at the latest.[168] When one or more new males oust the previous males associated with a pride, the victors often kill any existing young cubs, perhaps because females do not become fertile and receptive until their cubs mature or die. Females often fiercely defend their cubs from a usurping male but are rarely successful unless a group of three or four mothers within a pride join forces against the male.[169] Cubs also die from starvation and abandonment, and predation by leopards, hyenas and wild dogs.[155][104] Up to 80% of lion cubs will die before the age of two.[170]
Both male and female lions may be ousted from prides to become nomads, although most females usually remain with their birth pride. When a pride becomes too large, however, the youngest generation of female cubs may be forced to leave to find their own territory. When a new male lion takes over a pride, adolescent lions – both male and female – may be evicted.
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July 30th, 2019
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