However, instead of rushing in to take down the wildebeest, the lioness allowed the small animal to snuggle up in her lap. However, this is not the first time scientists have recorded lionesses defending their prey.Ī clip from the 2015 Smithsonian Channel documentary “Surviving the Serengeti” captures the moment a young wildebeest is born, is separated from its mother, and encounters an adult female lion looking for prey. It’s rare for a lion to give up the chance to get an easy meal. In the wild, they don’t hunt successfully every day. Healthy adult lions need to consume an average of 5-7 kg of meat per day. Eventually, when it is time to give birth, lionesses leave their family pride to find a private den in the shelter of bushes, or even a cave. Pregnancy lasts for around 110 to 120 days. However, zebras and wildebeest are popular prey because they are slower and easier to catch than creatures like antelope or gazelle, and are also less dangerous than buffalo. Female lions, lionesses, are able to give birth to cubs all year round, usually from the age of about three or four years old. Lions are carnivores with an extremely varied diet. While out on a safari drive in the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana, Shalin Fernando (33) captured this interesting interaction between a female lioness and her cub being interrogated by a pack of wild dogs. Females in the same pride look out for all the cubs and may even nurse each. This was a case of the lioness’ maternal instincts overtaking her hunting instincts, explained TANAPA spokesman Pascal Shelutete. This is the amazing moment a mother lion took a beating from a pack of African wild dogs in order to protect her cub. Lionesses are attracted to longer, darker manes male challengers see more.

It was very unusual for this big cat to act like that.

It is “escorting” the small animal to a safe location where the mother wildebeest can pick it up. But her victory leaves her dangerously wounded.From: A. Tanzania National Parks Organization (TANAPA) shared a video of a lioness walking next to a wildebeest half its size in the Serengeti national park on January 9. When a clan of hyenas challenges a pride over its kill, Saba the lioness fights bravely to repel them. A Lioness Mom Confronts a Trespasser to Protect Her Cubs 4,321,944 views 52K Dislike Share Save Smithsonian Channel 3.92M subscribers A lion mom finds her cubs in the orbit of another.

Lioness protecting her cubs