Lions and leopards are both big cats. Although leopards are slightly smaller than lions, they are rivals due to their commonality in hunting food. A kind of survival instinct, the lion with a slightly dominant size will brutally hunt the leopard and its cubs in order to obtain more living space.
Although two animals coexist as competitors, there will be incredible occasions, such as "maternal love overflowing". When animals are breastfeeding their cubs, or when they have just lost their cubs, they will explode a kind of maternal instinct, so that they will take care of the cubs of other animals in every possible way, and they don’t care about the cubs at all. Whether the cubs are in competition with them, or their prey.
There was once a photographer who followed this touching scene in the Gir National Park in Gujarat, India. He found that a mother lion was feeding her cubs, and among the cubs, there was a little leopard unexpectedly. Although the other lion cubs were obviously larger than the little leopards, they behaved like they were treating themselves. The same as your own brother. At first, this relationship between them made the photographer think that it might only be temporary, but in the follow-up shooting, it made him feel incredible.
The photographer tracked and photographed this lioness for more than a month. The little leopard has always been cared for by the lion mother, maintaining the mother-child relationship between this different species. The lion mother did not have the idea of eating the baby leopard, but gradually grew up under its care. And the rest of the lion cubs also especially like the leopard brother. They chase and play together, never bully this little leopard, and get along like a milk compatriot.
When talking about these scenes, immersive photographers will get emotional, "They look like a family of brothers and sisters!" said the photographer.He has been studying lions in this park for nearly 7 years, and this phenomenon is unprecedented. In addition to being amazed at the inter-species feeding that can be photographed this time, there is more to be touched by the maternal love of the lion mother.
After years of research on lions, the photographer said: "If there are other adult lions living around, this little leopard is impossible to be welcomed." But the Asian Female Lions Club is separated from the lions. Raising offspring by themselves after a few months, they will wait until the cubs are strong enough before leading them back to the lion group. This means that this lucky little leopard will not have any disturbance in these months.
The little leopard’s biological mother may have had an accident while out hunting. This homeless little leopard happened to be discovered by the mother lion who was breastfeeding. The little leopard is lucky. The mother lion feeds the little leopard little by little with her own milk. But unfortunately, on the 45th day of the photographer's follow-up shooting, the body of the little leopard was found in a puddle. The mother lion walked back and forth around the little leopard, sometimes she would pick up her head with her mouth and sway it gently. The little leopard's eyes seemed to have undried tears. The lion mother wished that the little leopard was just asleep, but the great mother could no longer arouse the poor little leopard.
A few days after the little leopard died accidentally, the autopsy report showed that the little leopard died of a congenital disease. The photographer said that for a long time to come, the mother lion would walk around the puddle. She looked around, as if looking for this baby leopard who has no blood relationship with her. After several months of feeding, it has regarded the little leopard as its own child. The destiny of the little leopard is tragic. He went to his mother since he was a child, but in just a few months of survival, he felt the maternal love brought to him by the lion’s mother. The little leopard brought infinite gratitude to the lion’s mother. Left this world. (The picture comes from the Internet)
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