Asiatic Lion - Data, Pictures & Videos

[Rishi]

Because the prides are always dispersed & there's a lot of territorial overlap, Asiatic lion social structure is more like tigers' than lion.
The pride-males rule over an area, with one or more duo/trio of lionesses (instead of lone females as in case of tigers) who aren't always "faithful".

The following story is a rare & fascinating case, in that backdrop...

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In Rare Incident, Lion Single-Handedly Raises Cubs After Their Mother Dies!
May 15, 2018

*This image is copyright of its original author

Although lions are one of the most social species in the cat family, Asiatic lions usually never assume the role of a lioness or actively take part in rearing cubs. Typically, a lioness is responsible for teaching her cubs how to hunt and protects them from harm. If she dies, the “aunts” of the cubs take over their responsibility. Aunt, in this context, refers to other lionesses in a pride.

In such a scenario, a lion living near the Bedhia village of Gir-Somnath district, named “Bedhia Male” by forest officials, has rewritten parenting rules in the last abode of Asiatic lions in the world.
Bedhia Male's three little cubs were left motherless about two years ago, when the lioness got electrocuted while entering a farm. The cubs were just three months old then, and very vulnerable, as there were no other lionesses in that pride.

Jalpan Rupapara, a naturalist working in Gir-Somnath, told, “Never in our wildest imagination did we expect the lion to become this responsible for its cubs. In fact, a lioness generally keeps her cubs away from the father, as big cats are known to attack their litter if they suspect the cubs’ paternity."

*This image is copyright of its original author

For over a year and a half, the lion took its cubs under its guardianship, protecting them from harm. Purvesh Kacha, a naturalist and anaesthetist who works with Rupapara in Gir-Somnath, claims that Bedhia has even avoided mating with other lionesses, fearing that the “step-mother” may harm his cubs.

He also taught the cubs to hunt prey and sustain themselves. The cubs are about two years old now, the time for them to start getting independent.
“These days the cubs have begun to hunt, while the lion closely follows them, keeping a watch,” said Rupapara, adding that “The cubs even share their food with their father!"

A must-read detailed account by the researchers on Facebook. Reply