A Pride of Lion Cubs Surrounds a Waterhole to Observe Egyptian Geese, Then Attempts to Capture Their Prey.
A group of lion cubs surrounds the swimming Egyptian geese.
Jem Harris, a staff member at the reserve, filmed a pride of lion cubs practicing their hunting skills near a waterhole in the private Dulini reserve within the Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa, as reported by Latest Sightings on January 31.
Lions are not fond of water, despite being able to swim. They differ from tigers, which enjoy water to cool off, according to Animal Planet. However, when faced with a river, lions will swim across if necessary. In Harris’s video, the cubs are not afraid to get their paws muddy to catch their prey.
Initially, the lion cubs were curious about the Egyptian geese—strange creatures floating on the water’s surface. They intently observed the movements of the flock. When they realized this could be a light snack, they attempted to pounce. However, the flock of geese quickly dove underwater as they noticed the approaching hunters.
The pride of lions initially seemed hesitant about the depth of the waterhole. But eventually, one lion cub decided to leap into the muddy water. It easily caught an Egyptian goose, clamping down on its prey and stepping out of the waterhole.
African lions (Panthera leo) are the only social cats in the world. Male lions protect the territory of the pride, while females are the primary hunters. Their prey includes antelopes, zebras, wildebeests, and various other animals.
Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiaca) are also native to Africa. They primarily feed on grass and seeds, with adults having a wingspan of 1.1 to 1.3 meters and weighing between 1.5 to 2.25 kilograms. These birds feature plumage in various colors, including brown, gray, white, black, orange, and green, with pink legs.
