Wild male lions will also typically chase off any male cubs when they grow up to ensure they are alone with the pride lionesses. Sometimes the lions will kill cubs - usually when they take over new territory from another pride - to stake their claim on the females.

Do male lions always kill cubs?

Infanticide by males

When a new coalition of males takes over a pride, they almost always kill the prides' cubs, since they are not biologically related and do not want to spend energy ensuring that other lions' genes will be passed on.

Why do mother lions reject their cubs?

For example, in the case of lions, a new male might take over a pride and kill all the offspring. ... Or, as Fitzpatrick notes, the female may do it because she simply wants to mate with a new male. Animal rights activists charge that captivity is a major source of anxiety causing females to destroy their young.