Marc Mol submitted this remarkable footage. He filmed it while visiting Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park.
Stuck!
Preceding the action that follows and based on the commentary in the video, we assume that one or more lion cubs slipped down the steep embankment. As we join the action, we see the cubs stranded at the water’s edge, while the adults look on helplessly from above.
Subsequently, some of the adults reached them but were unable to lead them to safety. Making matters worse, the hippos in the river were not happy with their presence so close to their domain.
Cubs lost under unknown circumstances
According to the information received, three of the four cubs quickly lost their lives, although we are not sure how. However, the subsequent fate of the final cub may offer clues.
As you can see in the image above, the sheer embankment proved impossible for the remaining cub to climb. In case you’re wondering, most national parks have a policy of non-interference in cases like this, preferring to let Nature run its course.
Danger lurks
As the cub scrambled along the embankment, its frantic calls drew more unwanted attention. Besides the hippos, the river was also home to some monster crocodiles.
At one point, the cub narrowly escapes what appears to be an attempted croc predation.
Enough of this bull
As if that wasn’t bad enough, the dominant hippo bull seems to have decided that it was time to evict the cub from its neighbourhood. Subsequently, the desperate cub had to run and swim for its life as the hippo closed in.
Despite having to run and swim against the swift current, the little cub somehow managed to stay clear of the hippo’s powerful jaws.
Eventually, it managed to climb onto a ledge…
However, as the bull got closer, the cub lost its nerve and began backtracking along the sheer embankment.
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Running the gauntlet
Eventually, the hippo decided to abandon its pursuit of the terrified cub. However, for anyone who thought that the cubs’ problems were over, they were, in fact, about to get worse.
By backtracking, the cub inadvertently returned to the area where the crocs had been seen earlier. As a result, it had to run the gauntlet.
After escaping the snapping jaws of the first croc, the cubs’ luck was dangling by a thread. As it ran for its life, several crocs lunged from the water, but somehow, the cub managed to evade several of them.
As the drama dragged on, one got the feeling that sooner or later, the cubs’ luck would have to run out. What no one could have anticipated was that it would unfold right in front of its distraught mother.
Luck runs out
Having miraculously survived multiple close calls with hippos and crocs, the cubs’ luck finally ran out when a massive croc burst from the water and clamped onto its leg.
As its mother looked on helplessly from the bank above, the unfortunate cub was dragged down into the water.
The lioness was joined by her pridemates in the moments that followed. Their forlorn, perplexed expressions, a poignant tribute to the little cub that tried.
