Lioness mothers often move their cubs to safer hiding places, but the journey is filled with danger — especially when they cross paths with their bitterest enemies. For vulnerable cubs, every step counts, and even a brief encounter with rival males or other predators can turn deadly in moments.
The survival rate for lion cubs is tragically low, with up to 80% dying before they reach two years old. Predation, starvation, disease, and infanticide by rival males all contribute to this harsh reality. In the wild, only about one in eight cubs survives to adulthood, making every successful escape a fragile victory in the struggle for life.
