Adult lions often appear regal. As symbols of power and strength they are impressive animals. Lion cubs, however, are adorable little bundles of chaos that are still only learning to become the dangerous predators they will be in the future.
Louise Strauss from Jock Safari Lodge caught these lion cubs on camera as they were in the middle of that exact chaos. Having ground a rock next to a riverbed that doubled as a perfect climbing frame, they wasted no time in starting their games.
Maximum Chaos
There appeared to be a total of eight lion cubs, all of a very similar age, cavorting about on this rock which in turn made the perfect climbing frame for them. With a dip small enough for them to climb onto, there was no better place for them to have fun.
The cubs all had a lot of energy and while some of them lay in the riverbed at the base of the huge rock, others were making the most of their opportunity to play, chasing each other from the sandy floor up onto the rock and around it.
Several cubs tumbled over the edge, falling a few feet to the sand below, and showing that they had almost a complete disregard for any kind of health and safety in their game.
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Asymmetric Warfare
While several of the lion cubs felt that they deserved a rest after their games, two cubs teamed up against a third and chased it back up onto the rock. The little lion they were chasing put up a valiant effort but the odds just weren’t in its favor.
Rather than give up, this cub escalated the game and leapt onto one of its pursuers while the other decided that it didn’t want to involve itself in that scuffle after all. Instead, in the way unique to cats of all sizes, this chaser pretended it had no interest in the whole thing.
The cub bore its pursuer to the ground where it rolled onto its back as a sign of submission, but the game continued as the cub, emboldened by this turn of events, pretended to bring its fellow down.
It’s All Just Pretend
These games are just make believe, and while it looked like the lion cubs were biting each other’s throats, this was just practice for when they will have to do it for real.
Apart from the odd bump and scrape from running around on the rocks, no cubs would have been harmed during these games. The same could not be said for the prey that these cubs will one day be repeating these moves on.
Using strength to drag opponents down to the ground and going straight for the neck are both vital talents which these lions will need to use to feed themselves and their prides in their future.
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Endless Fun
There was no adult lions in sight to hurry the cubs along, which meant they had all day to play on the rocks and wear themselves out ready for bed. This meant lots of chases and scuffles.
One day these little big cats would become deadly predators capable of hunting and bringing down prey larger than themselves, but at this point they were just children, enjoying their games.
