16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Lionnesses and Cub

A two month-old lion cub looks up adoringly at two lionesses in the Masai Mara National Park. Lionesses raise their cubs communally and cubs suckle indiscriminately from any lactating female. When I saw this sweet moment of interaction, I thought of many of my wonderful women friends whom I’ve watched co-parent each other’s children over the years.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2017
Date Uploaded: 08.2018
Photo Location: Masai Mara National Park, Kenya
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Copyright: © Julia Cumes