Researchers stumbled upon a heartwarming sight in the vast plains of Serengeti National Park, Tanzania: a lioness had taken in a newborn leopard.
This extraordinary act echoes a similar incident in Gir National Park, India, where a lioness nurtured a young male cub alongside her offspring in December 2018.
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She was described as “bizarre” in the journal Ecosphere, such inter-species fostering challenges conventional understanding.
The responsibilities of caring for young ones, gathering food, and ensuring safety demand significant time and energy, usually aimed at promoting one’s genetic lineage.
While instances of animals caring for non-biological young are not uncommon, they typically serve to enhance the caregiver’s reproductive success.
For example, female cheetahs often adopt orphaned male cubs, forming alliances with their adopted mother’s offspring.
However, while adoption within species is rare, adopting a rival species’ offspring is exceptionally unusual.
The lioness, named Nosikitok, encountered the leopard cub near her den, suggesting they are of similar age.
Despite the absence of her cubs, Nosikitok fiercely protects the leopard, an act uncommon among large cat species.
Experts speculate on the ideal outcome: the leopard reuniting with its mother. However, uncertainties persist within Nosikitok’s pride, raising questions about the cub’s long-term safety.
Sarah Durant of the London Zoological Society suggests that Nosikitok’s maternal instincts may have led her to adopt the leopard before her parental hormones ceased. Whether this adoption will be permanent remains unknown, but hopes are high for the cub’s well-being.
Dr. Luke Hunter, president and chief conservation officer, highlights the uniqueness of this bond, eagerly anticipating its evolution.
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