With all of those cubs, one couldn’t blame the lioness for being a tired mother. She reclined with her cubs and did what tired moms often do… gave a really big yawn!
Lioness with cubs enthralls viewers
Michael was no doubt enamoured by the mother lioness and her tiny ones.
The mother lay in a sphinx-like position. Her eyes were half shut and it was clear that she was dozing off. Her cubs lay just like Mom, in the same position, and also battling to keep their tired eyes open.
Perhaps moments earlier they had been playing in the bushveld, displaying the exuberant energy so typical of young animals. However, they were all ‘played out’, and appeared as worn out as their mother.
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They were too tired to be annoyed by the presence of motorists, and in many ways, it was as though Michael had been given a V.I.P. seat into this intimate space of fellowship between them.
Mother lioness gives epic yawn
With her eyes fully closed now, the mother’s mouth began to open, and continued to open, until she gave possibly the largest yawn spectators had yet seen.
Overseeing cubs is no easy feat, and she was exhausted! However, in her defense she was doing a good job. The cubs appeared well-fed and well cared for.
The little ones’ eyes closed slowly and they appeared close to sleep. One had already flopped down on its side, catching a nap while the others teetered at the edge of sleep.
Some rest before the next adventure
Some good rest was needed before this special pride could be up on their paws and active again.
Having yawned, the mother now closed her eyes fully and embraced the moment’s rest.
Her cubs would soon be up and playing again – cubs are playful creatures – so she would need all the strength she could muster. Sleep, in this instance, was necessary for her to perform all of her motherhood duties with excellence.
Lionesses and their cubs have fascinating sleeping habits which are deeply tied to survival and social bonds.
Lions are among the laziest of the big cats when it comes to rest. They can sleep or rest for up to 18 to 20 hours a day, conserving energy for hunting and defense. This applies to both adults and cubs. However, the dynamics around sleep change depending on the age of the cubs and the protective instincts of their mothers.
Cubs will spend most of their early weeks asleep, much like human infants. Sleep is essential for their growth, as it supports brain development and the strengthening of their tiny muscles.
When cubs are old enough to join the pride, their sleeping patterns begin to align more closely with the adults. They will rest in the shade during the day and become active in the cooler hours of evening and dawn.
Unlike adults, though, cubs are playful during their waking hours, often climbing over their mothers or play-fighting with their siblings, even when the adults are trying to sleep.
Fortunately for this tired Mom, her cubs were just as sleepy, and she managed to get some sleep in, before the pride’s next adventure.
