i remember seeing this on a wildlife documentary but couldnt remeber why they do this
2006-08-25 19:13:02 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
A male lion can and will kill lion cubs when he takes over a pride and they're not his.
Male lions do this to continue their own genetic lines since female lionesses are not fertile until their own cubs are born or at least grow to a certain age. Lionesses may sometimes try to protect their cubs from the new leader but it's rarely ever successful.
Killing the cubs and mating immediately with the females afterwards ensures that future pride members are related to him and reasonably grown by the time he is replaced in about another 10 years or so.
2006-08-25 20:48:13 · answer #1 · answered by slynx000 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There have been cases of lionesses in a pride going wonky and killing the young cubs when the mothers go out to hunt. Why? Who knows? Maybe they just hate babies.
Adolescence lions will play and maul very young cubs if they come across them, with dire results if the mother doesn't come and rescue them. (This is why the mothers go off into hiding to give birth.)
The life of a lion cub is very hard indeed.
2013-12-10 00:28:55 · answer #2 · answered by Joann 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, they don't.
Males do kill cubs of their females only after they take over a family and they are not the fathers of those young cubs. This does not reflect just an instinct to kill, rather the females would be ready to mate with the new male only if she loses its cubs.
In some cases mothers eat their dead cubs. I do not know the reason.
2006-08-26 09:21:41 · answer #3 · answered by myurdabayrak 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, they do not kill thier own cubs... but male lions kill the cubs of rival male lions when they take over a pride. As was stated before this is to ensure continuance of thier genetic material instead of another lions, and also to force the lionesses into heat so he can mate with them.
2006-08-26 05:42:29 · answer #4 · answered by Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have seen television shows that show that yes, male lions will on occasion kill their own cubs, whether it be for protection of the pride or some other reason. There are examples of other animals that do this too.
2006-08-25 19:18:26 · answer #5 · answered by prcla2000 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When one or more new males oust the previous male(s) associated with a pride, the conqueror(s) often kill any existing young cubs, perhaps because females do not become fertile and receptive until their cubs mature or die.
2016-03-27 06:30:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most breeds of male felines will kill male cubs to eliminate competition for procreation
2006-08-25 19:30:32 · answer #7 · answered by raredawn 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Lions never kills their own cubs.//////////
Actually they killed those cubs which are not borned from other lions,,,,,,,,
becoz they want their progeny should survive,,,,,,,
after killing the cubs borned from other lions,,,,,,,,, then only lioness will ready for breeding ,,,,,,,, otherwise not,,,,,,,
2006-08-25 20:02:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Only some because if they killed them all there wouldn't be Lions this day!
2006-08-25 19:18:32 · answer #9 · answered by Yahoo 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe because...the cub died when it was born..
The lion smelled his dead cub, as a meat prey...
But not lions do that..others like dogs as well..
Hahaha..
(In my opinion)
2006-08-25 20:32:41 · answer #10 · answered by carmela24ph 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋