"A Tough Mating Ritual"
			Now even the female has gone back to sleep. The Lion has no fixed breeding season. After a 14-15 week gestation period, 2 to 3 helpless cubs are born. Their eyes will open by the end of the 1st week and at 7 weeks they will be able to keep up with the pride. They start eating meat at 3 months, but will nurse until around 10 months. Their chances of survival are slim. They eat last when the pride eats, and the mother may sometimes abandon them in hard times. The pride could be taken over by a new male, in which case, he will kill the cubs so that the females will come into estrus sooner.
				All photos contained herein are copyrighted and are not to be reproduced for commercial use without John H. Fields' expressed permission.