Young lioness with her 3 weeks old cubs.

I was a volunteer in 2012 in a South African refuge, and one of the animal we were taking care of was a female lioness, Sheeba. I arrived a few days after she had her cubs. This very young lioness who just had a "surprise" litter (she wasn't supposed to be sexually mature yet) of 3 young lions (1 male and 2 female). At the time this video was taken, the cubs were 3 weeks old. If you're wondering why these animals are caged it is because the male Lion in the pride could easily kill the cubs. It's a natural defense of the Lions to protect their genes and eliminate competition when there's multiple males in the pride. Taken at Glen Afric farm in South Africa during a Volunteer Southern Africa program.