These cubs are walking in the wild for the first time in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, and they are too young to even learn to run, so they are still very dependent on their mothers.
These cubs are tiny and cannot take care of themselves. Their mother always looks for any prowling predators such as hyenas, leopards, jackals, pythons, and martial eagles.
Watch how the mother makes sure the cubs move like a tight nit pack to avoid any of them going astray. And to keep them out of danger. Unfortunately, in the face of the threat of famine, predators, and male lions, up to 80% of cubs die within the first two years.
Lionesses usually give birth to two or three tiger cubs at a time. However, litters can be as small as one cub and even as large as six.
In large prides, each lioness gives birth at about the same time. This allows them to raise and breastfeed together once the birth is complete. What’s unique about lion pride is that any lactating lioness can suckle in the pride; this promotes survival!
African lions are related to domestic cats, but they are significantly bigger with one key difference and can sometimes weigh up to 420 pounds!! Lions cubs are as big as mature lions; newborn cubs usually only tip the scales less than 5 pounds – how adorable.
Some animals can walk practically immediately after birth, like horses. Lion cubs are not agile, and it usually takes about 15 days to fully walk. However, some may walk a little earlier; they are generally not ready to run at that time and are typically able to run when they are almost a month old.
Lion cubs usually enter the world of isolation and do not meet the rest of the pride, who belong to the lion social group, until they are at least a month old and fully capable of walking and running. Hunting usually begins when the cubs are six weeks old.
Babies learn by closely observing their mothers. They count on the care and help of their elders in their pride until they are at least 16 months old. When they reach this age, they can begin to roam in the wild without assistance.
