Photo by beverlyjoubert | It takes tenacity and toughness—and a dose of good fortune—to survive to adulthood in the often treacherous world that growing lions must navigate. For a young cub, threats can emerge at every turn. There is hunger and injury and the menace of rival carnivores like leopards and hyenas. But there are also dangers much closer to home, woven into the complex social dynamics of a pride, where violent skirmishes for control can quickly turn fatal. Add humans into the mix and the threats quickly multiply, as poaching, hunting, and habitat loss further disrupt pride structures. It is not hard to imagine why some estimates suggest that up to 80% of lion cubs die before the age of two. We may not be able to shield them from much of the dangers of lion life, but we can ensure that our own actions don’t diminish their odds even further. #lions #bigcats #lioncubs #bigcatconservation