To me,
A mother means strength, unshaken, and true,
Like the roots of a tree, a deep knowing.
She cradles the world with hands soft yet bold,
A warrior’s heart, in her arms, we are safe.
A newborn monkey lies in the safety of its mother’s arms in the fork of a Leadwood Tree.
Her care is a river given life and flowing with love,
Nurturing dreams.
In her warmth, we find our light and our way,
A love that endures, come what may
A gorgeous female who is found to the east of camp. Easily recognised by her 2:2 spot pattern she is often to be found in Marula trees.
Through battles and trials, she stands tall,
Her courage is a beacon, guiding us all.
A mother means everything, pure and bright,
The soul of a warrior wrapped in light.
Amazing to see the claws of this little lion cub as its mother lay unphased as the cub played with her head.
To me, there is no difference for a mother in the wild…
The Patience and Strength of Mothers in the Wild
In the animal kingdom, a mother’s care reaches beyond feeding and protection—it’s about grooming, bonding, and nurturing her young for survival. Just like us, animal mothers ensure their offspring stay clean. While we may coax our children into baths with patience, a leopard mother may need to use a firm paw to still her cub while grooming it.
A tender moment between the Ndzanzeni Female and one of her cubs.
This female is a success story all in herself, being born as a single cub to the Riverbank 3:3 female in early 2012.
I recently watched a mother giraffe take a tender moment to groom her calf’s face, removing dirt and parasites with care. This simple action not only keeps the calf healthy but strengthens the bond between them—a quiet moment of patience.
And in the wild, this patience extends beyond grooming. I observed it in the way the Nkoveni Female’s cub rested easy atop a termite mound, safe in the knowledge that his mother’s watchful eyes were near.
One moment that struck me was watching a mother cheetah move gracefully through the grasslands. She had the stamina to keep walking for miles, yet she instinctively understood her cubs’ needs. She would stop often, allowing them to rest in the shade of a nearby bush. Though her body was strong enough to carry on, she gave them these moments of reprieve, reflecting a deep, instinctual patience.
Hunting for her young was another display of her resilience. I watched this same cheetah make not one, but two or more kills in a single morning. Her patience, combined with the fierce protection she showed, ensured the survival of her cubs. In the wild, mothers are not just caregivers—they are warriors.
Like the wild dog mother, who endures the playful nips at her ears and tail from her pups without frustration. Her tolerance may seem simple, but it reflects her boundless patience as she raises them, knowing they will soon face the dangers of the world. And when that world threatens, mothers transform into protectors—risking their lives to shield their young from predators like hyenas, or leading them to safety when danger looms.
One story that especially touched me involved the Three Rivers Female Leopard and her cub. Over several days, it became clear that her cub was sick—too weak to feed on a nearby kill. I watched as the mother nudged her cub, gently encouraging it to eat, but it remained still. Concerned yet unwavering, the Three Rivers Female did something remarkable—she carried the kill directly to her cub, refusing to give up. Her persistence, even when met with no response, showed the depth of her love and strength.
Forced into early independence as her mother was killed by the Southern Avoca Males.
Eventually, thanks to her relentless care and hunting skills, her cub regained its strength and is now thriving. This patience, this refusal to yield, is the essence of motherhood in the wild.
The Three Rivers Female’s cub, now around six months old, is still seen suckling occasionally. Cubs are usually weaned around four months, but perhaps the memory of the cub’s earlier illness lingers in the mother’s mind. The energy it takes to hunt and produce milk is immense, and yet this mother makes it look effortless—a testament to the power of maternal care in the wild.
Mothers, whether human or animal, demonstrate extraordinary care, patience, and protection for their young. From grooming and nurturing to hunting and safeguarding, these acts of love shape the futures of the next generation.
The Nkoveni female with her two cubs, for example, has been an inspiring figure to watch, having successfully raised three female cubs to independence already. Her skills as a mother continue to shine as she watches over her latest litter, providing the patience and strength they need to survive.
In the wild, the powerful bond between mother and young is a reminder of the endurance and resilience required to raise life. It is patience, a constant like the moon, that plays a vital role in ensuring survival.
0 Comments
on What Does A Mother Mean To You?