Sean Obeirne, a 13-year-old on a family trip to Kruger National Park, shared his story with Latest Sightings after an unforgettable encounter on their way to breakfast.
He said he “was with [his] family in the car on the way to breakfast at Tshokwane” when they “then came upon the pride of young lions resting in and around the road”.
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There are some prides in the Kruger that are known for interacting with cars, and these lions were perfectly comfortable getting up close and personal with the vehicles to investigate them.
Feline Investigation
Sean said that although they were the first on the scene, the “road quickly filled with cars, as it tends to do in the Kruger with an amazing sighting”. The lions quickly began taking a break from their busy schedule of lounging to investigate the cars.
One young male took a special interest in the car behind Sean’s, and he and his family caught the entire investigation on camera. The male lion started by giving the front of the car a good and thorough sniff.
From here, it moved on to inspect the vehicle’s tires, taking an equally thorough approach. The tires may have picked up an interesting scent after driving through the Kruger.
Inquisitive Cats
Cats are naturally inquisitive creatures, but their paws lack the tactility of human hands. This means, like a lot of other animals, they have to investigate things with their noses and mouths.
This lion, in the course of its inspection of the vehicle, began using its mouth to chew on the car’s tire. The softer material is very different from the metal panels of the bonnet and bumper, and the lion was simply being curious.
Sean and his younger brother were “laughing and joking that the lion would scratch the paint or in some way damage the vehicle”, but they didn’t know how prophetic their humor would be, as the lion bit down too hard on the tire and there was an “almighty bang.”
An Unexpected Shock
The lion’s teeth had pierced the rubber of the tire enough for the pressure to cause it to explode, and in so doing, it gave itself quite a fright. Along with its fellow cats, the young male decided its investigation was over.
The lions quickly fled, and Sean said once he and his family realised what had happened, they “laughed and laughed” at the lion’s actions.
He also said that “after a monumental giggling session,” they realised that perhaps this situation was not so funny for the occupants of the affected vehicle.
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A Rapid End To The Investigation
The lions had ended their vehicle inspection rapidly, but they’d left a damaged car behind them. While it’s rare for animals to do any damage to vehicles in Kruger, it is possible, and tourists should double-check their insurance, just in case.
In this instance, Sean’s family was able to help the stricken car retreat to a safe distance from the lions and safely change their wheel, making this a lovely story of human teamwork and support, as well as an amazing sighting.