Kita was one of three unrelated lion cubs brought to the San Francisco Zoo many years ago to start a new lion pride. Kita was not the alpha female. She was small, somewhat timid, and not aggressive. She made her place in the pride by her vigilance, affection and caring. She was always on the look out and kept the other cats aware of sudden or unusual changes around them. She cuddled near the other cats preferring close company and would often lick and nibble on her campanions much to their pleasure. The male lion seemed to love her company and chose her as his mate. She quickly became pregnant. Her delivery of two beautiful cubs seemed normal and she nursed them for 24 hours, the time necessary to give them vital nutrients they needed to survive. She then got up and moved far from the kittens, lay down, and wouldn't move. Unknown to her caregivers she had been injured during the delivery and was bleeding internally. She later died.

An Autopsy showed severl internal injuries that must have been excruciating to Kita. But female lions do not make sound when they deliver their cubs so as to not alert predators. Even with life threatening injuries Kita quietly delivered her two cubs and immediately began nursing them. The nature of her injuries suggested that every moment of nursing must have been agony for her but Kita nursed her cubs until they had what they needed to survive. Kita's strength and committment to the well being of her cubs was inspirational and motivated me do this memorial portrait of her.

Lions teach us many things about community, and attachment to others. Female lions, in particular, teach us about the importance of community and how the survival of all is more important than the survival of one. Kita had much to teach us about following the path of the lioness.