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
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
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.
Royal descendant of Mother Leopard lineage. Remarkable single cub success story who overcame injury to continue the royal bloodline.
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 at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
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.
A wonderful and moving poem about motherhood, Jess.
And I couldn’t agree more with this sentence of yours: “To me, there is no difference for a mother in the wild…”
Beautiful pictures showing the expense of motherhood in the wild
Sorry, I wanted to say: “the essence of motherhood”
Hi Jess, firstly your words touched me deeply as they made me think of my own mother and grandma. The latter then was a total fierce fighter, when it came to defend her family and fragile granddaughter, just like the Tsalala female, the Nkoveni Female and so on. I didn’t know the little Three Rivers female was so sick. Maybe that’s why she’s so soft and is very attached to her mum. Weaker creatures often exhibit a meeker personality. I’m so glad she survived! Yes the Nkoveni Female has been n exceptional mum, shame that the Plaque Rock female was lost to lions as well. I remember so well of the newborn giraffe… they are such magical creatures, the slow and sweet mother that helps her treasure to come to a new life is so moving… the bushbuck looks so adorable, and the mother has very few chances to intervene to save her calf… the cheetah has been an incredible living tale of endurance and success. I don’t want to say anything, I was more relaxed about the Nkoveni trio, so we’ll guarded by the Maxim male, and a few days later the tragedy. For sure, no pain is comparable to that of a mother that loses her offspring. Thank you for putting all those warming pictures, and my favourite leopards included the mythical queen Ndzanzeni…
Hi Jess yourbpoem is inspiring and true. Mothers in the wild are loving, caring and always on guard duty not matter the time of day or night. Patience and dedication to bring the young up to adulthood is no easy task. Just like our own mothers, with loving care, guiding in every direction and lots of patience. Beautiful photos of mothers and their young.
What precious pictures of mother and young. Thank you for sharing. my favorite is the waterbuck.
Most amazing pictures! Our Mother’s Day is in May…you should repost this then 🙂 Beautifully put!
This post was too good not to share with … my mother. Thank you Jess.
This post is such a beautifully written and illustrated tribute to moms everywhere, regardless of species. It brought to mind my own mother, whom I lost a couple of years ago as she was the essence of your poem. Reading your post a couple of times, I can’t help but agree that mothers of the wild are no different than any other mother…..
What a beautifully written blog, Jess, and some of the most touching mother-and-offspring images I’ve ever seen. Thank you.
A wonderful tribute to mothers, Jess.
Beautiful Jess!