The Grieving Mother
According to the wildlife photographer, this lioness had recently lost its cubs when an alpha from another pride intruded into their territory and brutally slaughtered them. When male lions seize new territory from another, they may murder cubs to establish dominance over the females. Lions can also be violent toward lionesses and even murder them if they reject mating. While lamenting their passing, this lioness took in this little calf, who was now filling the void left by their demise.
The Grieving Mother
Dealing With The Unknown
You would be forgiven if you thought this lioness was going to eat the deer in front of you. Even the wildlife photographer was looking forward to the awful moment. However, Donovan recalled that it never arrived and the lioness immediately began bathing the calf with its rough tongue. For him, this may be the weirdest thing about nature, it is unpredictable and whatever happens next remains a mystery. Would the springbok suffer a tragic fate, or will it be another nature’s miracle?
Dealing With The Unknown
