Pride and seek! Magical moment a lion cub peers out from between his mother’s legs while playing



This cheeky young lion cub was snapped hiding between it's mother's legs as it played in a Tanzania reserve.



Two American photographers , Laura Romin and Larry Dalton, managed to capture the playful cub while they studied the pride's behaviour.



The pair, both wildlife biologists from Utah, U.S., spent days with the lioness and her three cubs in the Ndutu Conservation Area, Tanzania, before they got their perfect shot of the little cub.

Laura Romin and Larry Dalton, professional wildlife biologists from Utah, USA, spent days with the lioness and her three cubs in the Ndutu Conservation Area, Tanzania, before they got the heart-warming shot

Attention: The moment came on a day when two of the lioness's three cubs appeared to be missing

Mr Dalton said: 'The cub walked under her mum's legs and sat down between them. We thought that was an adorable pose - and then the cub curled her paw around her mum's leg, just for a split second, but we were ready and captured this shot.'

The moment came on a day when two of the lioness's three cubs appeared to be missing.

While this meant lots of intimate one-on-one mum-time for the little cub left in the mother's company, and the subsequent chance of some great shots, the photographers feared the worst for the two missing lion-cubs.

They feared for the worst, but at the same time they got some stunning pictures of the only cub with its mother

The pair were relieved to find before they left Tanzania that the other two missing cubs returned to their mother

Ms Romin said: 'Although we are biologists and know the fate of many baby animals, we were saddened to lose these cubs that had become a very special part of this particular trip.



'But we spent the afternoon with the lioness and her one cub, the cub following very closely the entire time.'

The concerned photographers were happy to find that the two missing cubs returned to the pride safe and well before they left Tanzinia.

Throughout the day the photographers followed the mother and her playful cub, who at one point appeared to be watching them

Bonding: The adorable lioness and her cub couldn't look more content as they rested in the Tanzania heat

Ms Romin said: 'When we saw the cubs back with the pride we were elated. Photography gives us an opportunity to really immerse ourselves in the lives and behavior of the animals and we had grown fond of these cubs.'

Mr Dalton added: said: 'Taking images such as this lion cub is what continues to inspire our passion - clearly showing a special moment that endears these animals to us.'

Getting to know you: The little cub appeared to be lapping up the attention with the other two siblings missing