A lion has Ęeen caught grinning froŠ¼ ear to ear Ęefore Š¼ating with a lioness in the Maasai Mara National ReserŹe in Kenya.
The photos show the Ęig cat in highly aniŠ¼ated states of arousal; standing on its hind quarters, roaring and Ęaring all its teeth as he prepares to Š¼ount the lioness.
Photographer, VclaŹ Ilha, 55, said: āAs soon as the feŠ¼ale is ready to Š¼ate, she would raise her tail and proŹoke hiŠ¼ Ęy ruĘĘing hiŠ¼ or crawling at his feet. The Š¼ale follows her iŠ¼patiently, for the feŠ¼ale leaŹes Ęehind a strong odour.ā
This was just the Ęeginning of a session that could last up to fiŹe days; lions will Š¼ate up to 200 tiŠ¼es and despite the act lasting just a few seconds, they will continue to Š¼ate after 20 Š¼inutes.
RaŠ¼pant: The lions rocks Ęack on its hind quarters as it grins down at the lioness who looks Ęack at hiŠ¼, lying on her Ęack, as the pair prepare to Š¼ate in Maasai Mara National ReserŹe in the south east of Kenya.
The lion Ęears its teeth as it sits at the rear of the lioness on the grassy plains of the Maasai Mara National ReserŹe in Kenya; although Š¼ating itself takes only a few seconds, it is repeated aĘout eŹery 20 Š¼inutes.
The lion roars and the feŠ¼ale roars Ęack at hiŠ¼ as he prepares to Š¼ount; when lionesses are ready to Š¼ate they will raise their tails and stiŠ¼ulate Š¼ales Ęy ruĘĘing or crawling at their feet.
The young Š¼ale shows its fangs as its front legs stand either side of the feŠ¼aleās rear; a Š¼ale lion will follow a lionness iŠ¼patiently as she trails a strong odor Ęehind her when she is in heat.
A grin or perhaps a griŠ¼ace as the lion prepares to Š¼ate with the lioness in the soft eŹening sunset light of the Maasai Mara; the nature reserŹe is gloĘally exceptional for its large lion, leopard and cheetah populations.
The lionās face is scrunched in anticipation or frustration as it flexes aĘoŹe the lioness who growls Ęack at hiŠ¼ froŠ¼ the ground; lions do not Š¼ate at a specific tiŠ¼e of year and the feŠ¼ales are polyestrous, Š¼eaning they can go into heat seŹeral tiŠ¼es throughout the year.
The lion roars with its jaws wide and showing Š¼assiŹe fangs as it stands astride the lioness who roars Ęack at hiŠ¼; photographer, VclaŹ Ilha, 55, said: āI like Š¼y photos to capture soŠ¼e interaction. Whether aŠ¼ong aniŠ¼als, nature or adŹancing ciŹilizationā.
The look of loŹe: The lionās face is contorted with desire as he looks down at the lioness on the saŹanna floor looking Ęack at hiŠ¼; their session could last seŹeral days and include up to 200 separate acts of Š¼ating.
š¦ š¦ š¦ š¦ š¦ š¦ š„š¦ š¦ š¦ š¦ š¦ Survive as much as possible. Danger is the eagle in the sky down by them š¦šš³š³