Lions+Reproduction,+Cubs,+and+Child+Rearing

Lions: Reproduction, Child Rearing, and Cubs By Jordan Springer Everyone loves lions. They are the royalty of the savannah, considered the bravest of all animals. In the past, they were used on things such as family crests to represent courage and the will to fight. In cases such as these, the animal depicted is fully grown, muscular and with that regal mane we know so well. However, just like humans, lions take time to develop into the strong beings they are in the future.

Lions are very social animals, and as such, they live in groups, which center around the groups of females, known as prides. Of all the males in the pride, only one or two are permitted to mate with the females. Male lions are physically able to breed around the age of three, but most will not mate until about four or five, due to their inability to take over a pride. Females are physically able to breed at around the age of the age of three to four as well. After mating, the cubs are born, ranging in time from one hundred to a hundred and twenty days, or three to four months, later. When the pregnant female feels she is ready to give birth, she moves away from the pride and gives birth in a well-hidden lair.

When cubs are born, they are only around three pounds. As they are cats, lions reproduce by giving birth to multiple young at a time, in groups known as litters. Lions’ litters range in size from one to six, but the average is three. They remain hidden in their lair or hiding place for about six weeks, and during that time, they are completely dependent on their mother for milk and for protection. Speaking of protection, the pride serves another purpose in the lives of the lions. If the cubs are attacked, other female lions will help the mother defend them, and will even help care for the cubs. Oddly enough, the most danger to lion cubs comes from other lions. If a pride is attacked and a new lion or groups of lions come to power, they may kill the existing cubs of the females. They may do this for a few reasons. First, the cubs may oppose them. Second, they want to reproduce. If a lioness has kittens, she will not be ready to breed again until her cubs are eighteen months old. However, if her cubs are killed, she will be able to breed within the week. After six weeks, the cubs are capable of eating meat, but they continue to nurse until they are six to seven months old. The cubs need to learn skills in order to survive, and they can learn in a few ways. The first of these is by playing with their litter mates and mother. Although this may not seem like a very educational experience, this teaches cubs many social and survival skills.