As these incredible images demonstrate, it’s not just people grappling with the strain of unexpected extra childcare right now. When Singa, an African male lion, was abroad, his family of five rambunctious cubs proved to be more than a handful – or should that be pawful?
Despite his efforts, his parenting skills were not up to the duty of caring for his small brood at Pakawi Park Zoo in Belgium while their mother, JJ, was undergoing medical treatment.
‘Another lioness assaulted the mother,’ wildlife photographer Linda Smit stated. She received serious injuries and needed to be isolated from her cubs for several weeks to heal. So Dad had to look after them.
‘He was attempting to lift them, as a mother would, to carry them to what he probably thought was a safer location. However, being a man, he lacked the necessary skills and experience to lift them properly.
‘Despite his compassionate treatment of the cubs, they wailed every time he approached and attempted to relocate them. He was pretty patient with them, but he did grow irritated when they bit his tail.’
As the final image indicates, the cubs were visibly overjoyed when JJ was restored to health by zoo veterinarians and returned to their enclosure.
Two bear cubs are holding hands while their mother hunts for food
