A leopard was recently found to have adopted a newborn lion. This is an incident similar to the one at the Gir National Park in India where, a small male cub, about 2 months old, had a lioness’ nursing, fed from her prey that has been killed by the lioness and played with her two own cubs, about the same age as the leopard on December 2018. The researchers have been thoroughly confused by this uncommon incidence of inter-species fostering, which is described in the journal Ecosphere as “bizarre.” The care for the babies of another animal from an evolutionary point of view makes little sense.
When an animal takes care of the young, it often does so to promote its own genes. This type of situation, where an animal is caring for non-biological descendants of the same kind, is not rare. However, “these actions help directly increase the reproductive success of the person who does this,” the study’s authors said. For example, female cheetahs adopt orphaned male cubs, who form broad coalitions with the mother’s own children once they reach adulthood.
Nosikitok, a lioness, has adopted cubs from a competitor animal. This is very rare, but it almost never happens. The cubs are the same age and live near her den.
The lioness protects her cubs as if they are her own, by keeping them close to her. Lionesses are known to feed each other’s cubs, but adults and cubs from other large cat species can also kill. This is probably a very rare incident.
Experts believe that the ideal outcome would be if the leopard could find his way back to his own mother, as he is not sure how the pride of Nosikitok would react to a new arrival.
It is likely that she has come into contact with this leopard cub, which she adopted before her parental instincts kicked in.
No one knows whether the lioness will adopt the newborn leopard full time. Let’s hope that this lioness will take care of the baby leopard until it grows up.
It’s very unique and captivating to see the outcome of this project. Dr. Luke Hunter, president, and chief conservation officer say it will be interesting to see how it turns out.
