Although there is a myth that most cats will desperately avoid water wherever possible, lions in the wild will wet their paws without any such qualms when the situation calls for it.
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This footage of the Kambula Pride of lions, sent to Latest Sightings by Mike Botes, shows that some big cats will even get creative around water when it makes the difference between getting a bite to eat or not.
Making Some Important Calculations
The dangerous lioness had already brought down the unfortunate waterbuck at the beginning of the footage. She stood over her kill proudly, while the much smaller cubs lingered on the edge of the water.
Near the long grass the young lions would have the opportunity to flee to cover if they found themselves under any kind of attack. Although this water appeared to be shallow, caution was a valuable skill for these cubs to learn, and it would serve them well in their adult lives.
It quickly became clear that there was no risk of an opportunistic crocodile emerging, and there were no hippos nearby, meaning this water was safe for the cubs to approach.
Forming An Orderly Queue
The cubs were clearly still timid as they approached the carcass of the waterbuck. One lioness remained close to the kill, while another kept its distance, watching over the immediate surroundings to ensure the cubs remained safe.
Eventually, hunger and curiosity forced the cubs closer to the waterbuck while the lioness began the process of tearing it open with her sharp teeth. Usually playful and chaotic, these cubs formed a queue to approach the meal.
The bravest of the young lions tried using its own teeth on the carcass, but its mouthfuls were much smaller than the lioness’, and they didn’t appear to leave much of a dent.
Away To Sea
Desperate to make some kind of impression, one of the cubs decided to actually climb up on top of the waterbuck where it might get better purchase to chew with its teeth.
Unfortunately, the lioness chose the same moment to move the meal deeper into the water, potentially even trying to move it away from the troublesome cubs, to a spot where she would be able to enjoy it in peace.
The poor cub sitting atop the prey found itself going for a merry ride as the lioness dragged the carcass through the water. The other two cubs watched helplessly as their sibling rode the waterbuck into the depths, shallow enough for the adult lions, but too deep for their own small legs.
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Valuable Sailing Experience
The cub’s aquatic adventure was only short lived, as the young lion found itself rapidly going out of its depth it slid down from the haunches of the waterbuck and managed to hurry back to shallower waters where it could stand.
The lioness responsible for dragging the carcass through the water seemed indifferent to the cub that had been riding it like a raft, but it only secured itself a few moments of peace and quiet before the young cubs forged the shallow river, and were back to worrying at the meal.
Cats stereotypically dislike water, but these cubs had learned an interesting way to avoid getting their feet wet, they just needed an adult to pull the waterbuck along for them to ride.