A mother lion was seen picking her cubs up with her mouth in an attempt to get to a kill quicker.

Footage captured on July 17 in Kruger National Park, South Africa, shows the mum using her jaw to grab her cubs.

According to the filmer: "The lioness obviously went to fetch the cubs from their hiding spot to come and feed. Most probably the first time they would have tasted meat.

"The cubs were extremely cute, although stubborn at times. Twice, she looked me straight in the eyes, protective, but also proud of her litter. Mom and the cubs regularly 'talked' to each other, as one can hear in the video.

"Unfortunately, some of the sounds were drowned out by the Diesel Land Rover as we had to keep moving to keep up with them.

"We followed her for several kilometres down the road while they weave from the road into the bush and back again.

"One of our best lioness and cubs sightings ever."

Lion Mom Carries Stubborn Cub Caringly in Her Mouth
We found these Lions just South of Tshokwane Picnic spot in South Africa's Kruger National Park, yesterday, 17 July 2023.
They were on their way to a kill, which the rest of the pride made, but we did not know that at the time. The Lioness obviously went to fetch the cubs from their hiding spot (den) to come and feed. Most probably the first time they would have tasted meat.
With the greatest patience, only a mother can have, she carefully positioned one of the cubs in her mouth while trying not to step on the other 2 in between her feet. Instinctively, the cub will relax of all its muscles and allow the mother to carry it to the rest of the pride. After giving birth, the mother would transfer them to prevent predators that could hurt or kill the cubs from being attracted by the smell of blood and the sound of new life. A lioness will abandon her pride and retire into a dense, impenetrable habitat to give birth after a gestation period of about four months. She hides her young cubs here for up to six weeks before introducing them to the rest of the pride.

The cubs were extremely cute, although stubborn at times.
Twice, she looked me straight in the eyes, protective, but also proud of her litter. Mom and the cubs regularly "talked" to each other, as one can hear in the video. Unfortunately, some of the sounds were drowned out by the Diesel Land Rover as we had to keep moving to keep up with them.
We followed her for several kilometers down the road (we have a longer video of that), while they weave from the road into the bush (next to the road) and back again.
One of our best Lioness and cubs sightings ever. The video may be edited if needed.