Lions Mating - 4K African wildlife video, wild animals on safari

#Mating #lions - Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South #Africa. Shot on Red in 6K raw R3D at 50fps slow motion with a Sigma 300-800mm lens.

This pair of lions approached our car in the game reserve and started to copulate a few metres from where we were parked. It was a bit scary as we had just been warned by a park ranger that this particular male lion was very aggressive. My camera was mounted to the outside of the vehicle, so I was unable to close the window, and, because I was watching the viewfinder, I was not sure exactly how close the animals were. From the noise of the male big cat grunting and roaring it felt like they were practically inside the car.

More information about the reproductive habits of the African lion (Panthera leo):

Lionesses become reproductively active around four years of age. The females are polyestrous, and can mate at any time of year. The male lion's penis has spines that point backwards. The spines scrape the walls of the lioness's vagina and may induce ovulation. Sometimes female lions mate with multiple males while they are on heat, and they mate approximately every 20 minutes for about 4 days. During this honeymoon period, they do not hunt or socialise with the rest of their pride.

Lion gestation lasts around 110 days after which the lioness give birth to between one and four cubs. She will hide the cubs in the bush, away from the pride, while she goes out to hunt, returning to suckle the cubs. Lion cubs are born blind and they only open their eyes when they are about a week old. At birth they weigh around 1.5kg. For safety, the lioness will move her cubs frequently. While they are still small, she does this by carrying them individually by their neck or head. Later, she calls them to follow her to a new den site. Once the cubs are six to eight weeks old, the mother and cubs reintegrate with the pride.

Lions often synchronise their reproductive cycles and rear the cubs communally, with multiple lionesses suckling the cubs. This gives the cubs a better chance at survival. Cubs are weaned after about 6 months, and reach maturity in about 3 years.