Watch the sighting here:
This amusing video was sent to Latest Sightings by Cameron Schmidt. He filmed it at Pumba Private Game Reserve, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.
Playing with purpose
As Cameron’s video commences, we see a pair of lion cubs at play on lush green grass. Like all baby animals, their play is cute, funny and with an underlying purpose.
Unusual mother
Nearby, their mother is making the most of the opportunity to catch up on some sleep. Unlike her cubs, she is white, due to a rare recessive gene mutation.
Staying with the lioness for a moment, you’ll note that even her eyes are pale. This condition is called leucism and is caused by a partial loss of pigment.
Playtime paused
After wrestling for a while, one of the cubs moved off over the ridge. Thinking playtime might be over, the other cub started to settle down. However, it was all a ruse.
Soon, the cub reappeared at the top of the ridge. It would seem that, having amused itself for a while, the cub had concluded that having a playmate was more fun.
Unsuspecting sibling
Seeing that its sibling was preoccupied, the cub decided that now would be a good time to launch an ambush. With that, it took off at a gallop, quickly homing in on its unsuspecting victim.
However, the other cub turned out to be more alert than it realised. Seeing its sibling charging towards it, it turned to flee.
As the pair careened down the grassy embankment, it was obvious that the pursuing cub still had a speed advantage. Noticing this, the fleeing cub began turning to face its aggressor.
A lesson in physics
As it did, it became obvious that this cub still had a bit to learn about the effects of physics on a moving object. No sooner had it begun to turn than gravity took over, causing it to lose its footing.
With that, the pair tumbled down the hill, landing up together in a tangled heap. Thankfully, the soft, lush grass softened their fall and no harm was done.
After a bit of wrestling on the ground, both cubs were soon on their feet. With that, the games continued, each cub eager to prove itself a worthy future king of the jungle.
Subsequently, as one of the cubs ran back up the slope, we see that there was a third cub watching proceedings. Like its mother, this one was also white.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
More than fun and games
As these two youngsters go about their playful ways, it’s important to remember that there is more to play than just having fun.
This interactive activity promotes physical, social and mental development. Furthermore, it helps youngsters learn vital survival skills.
For instance, in the video, we see how the cub practices its stalking and chasing skills. As social creatures, these hours spent in play will reinforce their bonds, ensuring a more cohesive hunting unit in the future.
So, next time you find yourself watching young animals at play, see if you can spot the specific skills they may be practising.