During my many visits to Kenya, I had never been fortunate enough to see a lioness move a cub from one den to another safe location.
In the autumn of 2021, I received a message from my local guide that several lionesses with cubs were in the mara, and that it might be interesting to follow the lionesses for a longer period this time, especially since there were few to no tourists in the mara due to COVID regulations. We stayed near the Black Rock area, where several lionesses and their cubs were located, in the silent hope that one of the lionesses would move her cubs to another location.
During the first week, we saw several lionesses from the same pride walking outside with their cubs, after which the cubs played together outside, but carrying them was not an option. On the morning of day 11, some of the lionesses and their cubs had descended from the cliffs and were in the open field, half-hidden by the tall, dry grasses. When they eventually retreated and headed towards the den, a cub couldn't keep up and remained behind, crying out. A lioness, probably the mother, returned and tried to lift the cub.
After several attempts, the unruly cub allowed itself to be lifted, and the lioness carried it towards the cliffs. It's astonishing how, with her powerful jaws, which could easily cleave a wildebeest's throat, she could so tenderly lift a small cub and then safely carry it to a new den, occasionally setting it down gently as if it were made of glass. The answer is actually simple: the lioness doesn't exert maximum force, and if the cub didn't cooperate, it would result in injuries to the cub that could eventually be fatal.
Perfect for: Wildlife art collectors, nature lovers, safari enthusiasts, and anyone drawn to emotional, intimate, and dramatic wildlife photography.
Mara - Kenya
This image is also available on request through the contact form in a variety of sizes and premium finishes, including Fine Art Print, ChromaLuxe Glossy, ChromaLuxe Matte, Dibond Glossy, Dibond Matte, and Canvas. If you are looking for a custom size or presentation, feel free to get in touch to discuss the available options.
During my many visits to Kenya, I had never been fortunate enough to see a lioness move a cub from one den to another safe location.
In the autumn of 2021, I received a message from my local guide that several lionesses with cubs were in the mara, and that it might be interesting to follow the lionesses for a longer period this time, especially since there were few to no tourists in the mara due to COVID regulations. We stayed near the Black Rock area, where several lionesses and their cubs were located, in the silent hope that one of the lionesses would move her cubs to another location.
During the first week, we saw several lionesses from the same pride walking outside with their cubs, after which the cubs played together outside, but carrying them was not an option. On the morning of day 11, some of the lionesses and their cubs had descended from the cliffs and were in the open field, half-hidden by the tall, dry grasses. When they eventually retreated and headed towards the den, a cub couldn't keep up and remained behind, crying out. A lioness, probably the mother, returned and tried to lift the cub.
After several attempts, the unruly cub allowed itself to be lifted, and the lioness carried it towards the cliffs. It's astonishing how, with her powerful jaws, which could easily cleave a wildebeest's throat, she could so tenderly lift a small cub and then safely carry it to a new den, occasionally setting it down gently as if it were made of glass. The answer is actually simple: the lioness doesn't exert maximum force, and if the cub didn't cooperate, it would result in injuries to the cub that could eventually be fatal.
Perfect for: Wildlife art collectors, nature lovers, safari enthusiasts, and anyone drawn to emotional, intimate, and dramatic wildlife photography.
Mara - Kenya
This image is also available on request through the contact form in a variety of sizes and premium finishes, including Fine Art Print, ChromaLuxe Glossy, ChromaLuxe Matte, Dibond Glossy, Dibond Matte, and Canvas. If you are looking for a custom size or presentation, feel free to get in touch to discuss the available options.