Life Cycle
Lion cubs are born blind, in litters of two to four. They are
typically about 1 foot long and weigh about a pound. The cubs are
completely covered with fur at birth, and may carry some spots
while they are young. The eyes open in about 2-3 weeks, but they
probably don't function for about a week after they open. The
milk teeth appear about three weeks after birth, and the cubs are
ready for solid food about a week later.
Mother lion keeps her cubs by themselves for the first few
weeks, but then introduces them to the pride. Cub mortality is
extremely high, with only one in eight surviving to adulthood.
Young cubs spend much of thier waking time playing, and
practicing the survival skills they will need as adults. Just
before they are a year old, they will join their parents in the
hunt. Before the cubs have reached the age of two, they can bring
down prey as large as a gazelle by themselves. At age two, lions
become sexually mature, and males start to grow manes. The
appearance of the mane causes the young males to be driven out of
the pride. Females usually stay with the pride for their entire
life, although some are known to live alone.
Single males often live on their own for many years.
Frequently, two or more males, often brothers, will form an
association, and hunt together for varying periods of time. This
association probably results from the advantages of hunting
together when young, and freshly kicked out of the pride. The
groups of powerful males will often take on game that females
tend to leave alone. It is also commonm for these male
associations to take over a pride as a group.
Females go through a sort of 'trial' when they reach
adulthood, to see if they can stand up to the other adult
females. Those who can take the harrasment of the other females
are ultimately accepted into the pride. Those that are
intimidated, and run away when harrased, become nomads.