Lion Cub's First Meeting With Dad Captured on Camera

abc news ^ | 8/22/2012 | Katie Kindelan

[Former Fetus]

Lions are known as some of the most ferocious animals on the planet, so a tender moment between a father and his cub captured on camera in the wilds of Africa is generating a lot of buzz.

"The lion photos have hit it quite big because it's the cub meeting his dad for the first time ever," said the wildlife photographer who captured the meeting, Suzi Eszterhas. "It's a major part of a lion's life growing up."

This particular cub met his dad for the first time after seven weeks with his mom.

"When lion cubs are babies, the mom keeps them in a den for the first six to eight weeks of life, and it's during this time that she keeps them very hidden," Eszterhas told Goodmorningamerica.com. "After, she will bring them out and introduce them to the pride. It's at that point they meet dad for the first time."

[Former Fetus]

With all the trouble surrounding us, I found this a breath of fresh air!

More pics at the link and HERE

[Conservative4Ever]

The circle of life, Simba.

[knittnmom]

Thank you! That is so cool!

[GeorgeWashingtonsGhost]

Great pictures.. And I ain’t lion!

[beaversmom]

Big Kitty Ping.

[jagusafr]

“MuFAsa!”

“Ooohh, say it again!”

“Mufasa, Mufasa!”

Funny how I can only stand Whoopi when she’s a cartoon character...

[MrEdd]

Fortunatley, this was one of the cases where it went well. As opposed to the occaisional cases in nature where junior is promptly eaten.

Or unfortunately if you are a zebra.

[Elsiejay]

Now where have I read and heard, more than once, that male lions, and bears as well, are wont to kill their own cubs? Is this simply untrue?

[momtothree]

Last year, I watched a show about lions. From what I gather, there is one male leader. It is common for the younger males to challenge his authority. If the male leader is killed, the new “alpha male” will kill the cubs. In short, he wants to eliminate any remaining attachments to the original leader. The killing of the cubs usually leads to the female lions going into heat... thus bringing a new batch of cubs into the pack. (if you aren’t squeamish like me, youtube has clips of such occurrences)

[CatherineofAragon]

This pic was my desktop background for a while. Both dad and cub are lovely to look at.

[randita]

outdoor ping

[Slings and Arrows]

[SkyDancer]

[Liberty Valance]

[Mr. Jeeves]

In short, he wants to eliminate any remaining attachments to the original leader.

And we see the exact same behavior in humans - kids often don't fare well in the care of mom's new boyfriend.

[Celtic Conservative]

They are far more likely to kill cubs of unrelated males in their territory than their own.

CC

[dfwgator]

“The circle......the Circle of Life...”