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8. What are you looking at?
Unlike the collective births of wildebeest, leopards seek solitude during pregnancy. After a 93-day gestation, a leopard births one to four blind, vulnerable cubs. The mother picks a secluded den, often in thick brush or rocky hideouts, to guard her young.
She hunts for herself and her cubs, sometimes hoisting food into trees to shield it from scavengers. As the cubs develop, she teaches hunting, showing techniques and spurring practice through play.
Leopard mothers display extraordinary commitment, steering their cubs to independence by eighteen months. Their lone, stealthy demeanor and diligent care unveil the stunning resilience and adaptability of these majestic cats.
These varied paths through pregnancy and motherhood, from lizards’ hidden eggs to elephants’ epic gestation, illuminate the incredible ways animals foster the next generation. Each tale stands as a tribute to the awe and splendor of life in the wild.
