High on the wishlists of most safari-goers are the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. In this video, we witness a rather one-sided and unexpected interaction between two of the species.
Dylan Royal from &Beyond submitted this amusing footage to Latest Sightings, which he filmed at &Beyond Phinda in South Africa.
Watch the video now:
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Royalty at rest
Our story begins with a sighting that is memorable in its own right. Sprawled along a dusty track, a pride of lions, including several cubs, is resting.
The only possible negative of the picture is that none of the lions are facing towards the camera. Then again, they’re so-called bush royalty, free to do as they please.
Rhinos incoming
However, as the camera zooms out, we see that the lions have good reason to look in the opposite direction. Approaching from a distance are a female white rhino and her young calf.
Since it is not every day that you see two members of the Big Five at once, the sighting has gone from good to great. However, for two of the cubs, they’re getting a bit too close for comfort.
The tension rises
Consequently, as the rhinos draw ever closer, the tension ripples through the rest of the pride, with more of the cubs retreating. Since rhinos have notoriously poor eyesight, it is unlikely they’re even aware of the lions’ presence.
Even so, the closer they get, the better their chances of detecting the lions, either by their scent or movement. When that happens, their respective reactions will be hard to predict, especially with young animals present.
Call yourself a king?
It is only when the camera zooms out that we see that there is a male lion present. As he rises, we almost expect him to rush to defend his pride.
His response, however, seriously makes us question whether he is, indeed, the king of the jungle.
As his family looks on, he promptly departs stage right and isn’t seen again. So much for that myth.
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Leave it to the ladies?
As the male made his unceremonious exit, the rhinos finally noticed the movement. Surprisingly, even though she had her calf in tow, the mother rhino simply continued grazing.
Equally, it can be said that the lionesses were none too fazed either as the great grey beasts got steadily closer. No doubt they’d realised that, with the male gone, it would be up to them to defend if it came to that.
Well… that is not quite what happened either. Soon, most of the lions had cleared off, leaving one lioness and a cub engaged in a brief standoff with the rhinos.
As the path before them cleared, the rhinos advanced, all the while feeling more confident.
A final indignity
So much so that when the last lion’s departure was a bit too slow, it was the calf that charged forward, sending the lion scampering to the safety of its pride.
And, with that, we are proud to present the newly crowned King of the African Plains…
Well done, Junior, you sure showed those lions! And stay tuned for our Wild Parent of the Year Nominees.