a young lion and his mother I/III by Endre Lommatzsch

About "a young lion and his mother I/III"

by Endre Lommatzsch

About the artwork

The relationship between young lions and their mother is crucial for their survival and development. In the natural world, lion prides are socially organised, with the mother playing a central role in rearing and protecting the cubs.

After birth, the young lions usually stay in a protected area for the first few weeks, carefully chosen by their mother to protect them from predators and other dangers. During this time, the mother takes intensive care of her cubs by nursing them, keeping them warm and defending them from potential threats.

The mother lioness is responsible for hunting and making sure she gets enough food for herself and her cubs. In the first few months, the cubs are provided with pre-digested food by their mother, which they receive in the form of regurgitation (regurgitation of meat that has already been eaten). This allows the young to make a smooth transition to solid food as they grow older.

Play is an important part of the bond between mother and cubs. During play, the young lions learn basic hunting techniques and develop their physical skills. The mother encourages and supports this behaviour by actively participating in the playful activities.

Over time, the young lions become more independent and begin to focus more on hunting. However, the mother remains an important source of protection, guidance and social interaction. Even when the young lions become adults and leave the pride, the bond with the mother often remains and she can still offer them protection and support in difficult situations.