Regular contributor Deon Kelbrick sent this amusing video to Latest Sightings. He witnessed the incident in the northern Sabi Sands Game Reserve while on a game drive.
Not so regal hunters
Ordinarily, when we think of male lions, we conjure images of regal cats striding purposefully across the savannah. However, it would seem that even they occasionally struggle to portray this image, particularly when the chance of a meal is on offer.
As the footage rolls, Deon captures an unusual scene. Two adult male lions face away from the camera, their attention firmly focused on a hole in the ground.
As we watch, it becomes apparent that they are trying to dig something out of the hole, thought to be a warthog.
Let me out
Initially, it looks like the lion on the left is doing most of the work. But, possibly tired of getting sand in his eyes, he tries to extricate himself.
However, his partner-in-crime seems determined to take over digging duties as soon as possible, making it difficult for the first lion to get out of the way.
Let’s try again
Eventually, they sort themselves out, but the pair keeps their attention fixed on the hidden prey.
Subsequently, perhaps after hearing movement within, the two predators redouble their efforts.
As seriously intent as they may be, the sight of one lion flopping on top of the other brings chuckles from the watching tourists.
Not his best side
As the lion lands on its back, it continues trying to excavate the hole in an upside-down position. In the process, they present their audience with some less-than-flattering views of their rear ends.
As time drags on, the pair continue their enthusiastic but ineffective digging, now lying on their sides. Not that this brings any success.
Getting cramped
As the pair get deeper, the hole they are digging gets narrower. With that, one of the males decides to look at things from a different perspective.
After taking a good, long look at the situation, he lifts his shaggy head. Judging by his facial expression, it seems he is beginning to lose hope that he will ever eat again.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
Outcome unknown
As the video nears its end, both lions stare at the hole, seemingly out of ideas. Unfortunately, we don’t find out if they were ultimately successful.
One thing is for sure. Whatever it was that lay hidden in the burrow is probably still waiting for its heart rate to come down.
Lazy lions
Contrary to common perception, male lions do not spend all their time with their prides of females. In fact, they generally divide their time between several different prides.
When not with a pride, they patrol their territories and during this time, they will hunt for themselves. Since no females are seen in the video, we assume that this is one such occasion.
While even a full-grown warthog won’t go far between two males, they would probably expend less energy digging out the warthog than they would on a typical hunt.
However, research shows that males more frequently target larger ungulates, such as giraffes and buffalo. As such, the video depicts an opportunistic hunt, as opposed to typical behaviour.
Whatever the case, they’re unlikely to have to dig a giraffe out of a hole.