The illustration depicts the life cycle of a lion from birth to maturity. Overall, there are eight steps in the sequence, starting with the birth of a baby lion, followed by the development of the cub and ending when the lion reaches its life expectancy.
The first five steps involve the emergence of the cub. Initially, during the breeding season, the female lion gives birth to her offspring. After this, the newborn begins to walk approximately ten days after being delivered before they become familiar with their pride for identification between four to six weeks of age. In the following six months, the baby lions stop suckling their mother’s milk and wean off before learning to forage for themselves by hunting animals, such as deer, about five months later.
The remaining steps witness the development of the young. Once juvenile female lions reach maturity and are capable of breeding, they search for partners in order to mate and produce young. The next stage begins when the lion is fully developed in size and height, with the male lion growing a bushy mane. Ultimately, the mature lion reaches its life expectancy, which is around 20 years after passing away and returns to the ecosystem, making way for the next generation to grow and reproduce.