Absolutely adorable footage of a mommy lion grooming her playful cubs. These babies are so tiny, that they’re sure to make your heart melt.
The mommy lion nuzzles up to the first cub, which sits patiently in front of her.
Mark Fox, a ranger and photographer in Kruger National Park in South Africa, had the privilege of capturing a heartwarming moment of a mommy lion cleaning her cubs. This lioness had her hands full with not one, not two, but three tiny, almost newborn cubs. Some of them were cheeky enough to avoid Mommy’s cleaning tactics.
The most common reason for a mother lion to clean her babies is to free them of dirt and bugs. A clean cub is a healthy cub! Lions can also identify each other based on taste and smell. Mommy lions use grooming to distinguish which cub is which. As we all know, children are chaotic and run around playing all the time. For this reason, mothers need to keep track of their babies to ensure each one is accounted for.
Another significant reason for grooming is to strengthen bonds. Grooming is an intimate, special moment for animals to become closer. Just as with human mothers holding their babies, lion mothers lick their young to form a connection. Keeping up this practice helps the pride stay close-knit, which ultimately ensures easier survival.
The baby lion gives its mother an affectionate head hug.
In these images, we see the cubs returning affection to their mother with head hugs and cuddles. Cubs need a strong bond with their mothers to thrive in the pride and become well-rounded adults. When a mommy lion grooms her cubs, she is also teaching them how to be social with other lions, which is essential in keeping the pride cohesive and well-functioning.
Mother lions may lick and groom their cubs for thermal regulation, especially if the cubs are newborns or very young. Most babies have difficulty regulating their temperature, so they need help from their mothers to stay warm when it’s cold.
A lesser-known fact is that grooming cubs helps keep them undetectable to predators. The saliva reduces their natural scent, hiding them from the dangers that lurk in the bushes.
Grooming sessions gradually decrease as the cubs grow up. Mother lions need to teach their young how to be independent and thrive without their constant assistance.
