Lion lioness
These cubs weigh 1.2–2.1 kg at the time of birth and begin to crawl in 2 to 3 days. Mother lionesses hunt alone in this duration in places that are near to their new den where the cubs are. The newborn cubs are blind, helpless, and stay in the den close to their mother until they are 2 to 3 weeks old. The newborn cubs are kept away from the pride until they are old enough. The pregnant lionesses are found to seclude themselves from the pride and give birth to the cubs in a secluded den, which may be a thicket, a reed-bed, a cave, or some other sheltered area. Once pregnant lionesses gestate for about 110 days before giving birth to a litter of one to six cubs. When in heat, a lioness may mate with different lions in the pride as frequently as once in every thirty minutes. Lionesses are found to have an irregular reproductive cycle with fertile periods lasting anywhere between three to four days, unlike other mammals. Lions are not monogamous species, which means they may have multiple mates. Lions similar to other mammals give birth by sexual reproduction. The entire life cycle of a wild lion spans almost 8 to 10 years & while in captivity they can live up to 25 years of age. These young lions remain with pride until they reach sexual maturity, and once they attain sexual maturity, they leave the pride. The young lions start eating meat from the hunted prey only after three months. The newborn cubs are blind and helpless, making them stay close to their mother for 2-3 months. The life cycle of a lion starts with sexual reproduction and a lioness giving birth to cubs. The lion cubs below the age of two have an 80% mortality rate. Apart from all these, the lifestyle of lion pride is not favorable for the lion cubs. Over the years the population of lions has dwindled drastically, earning them a place in the vulnerable category of IUCN. Though they belong to the family of apex predators, they are undeniably fragile against the brutal force of humanity.
The proud stance and the mane of the lion genuinely make it the king of the jungle. When it comes to the wild animals of the jungle, no other animal is as beloved and majestic as the lion.