African lions are known to dislike water and only venture into it for good reason, such as crossing a river. So it was a rare sighting when a ranger witnessed a lion family enjoying a day in the water at the Mala Mala Game Reserve of South Africa.
Mike Kirkman, 37, shot video that shows what looks to be father and mother lions and their two cubs enjoying the cool water of the Sand River. The parents were even laying in the water as they watched their two young ones frolic about.
“It was a very rare sighting and I have never seen any other lions doing anything like it in 15 years of guiding, nor do I really expect to ever see it again,” Kirkman, a head ranger, told Latest Sightings.
“I have no idea why these lions don’t have a dislike to the water like most lions do. The only theory I have is that for some reason the lioness learned to do it and then passed it on.”
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The lions were part of the Charleston Pride, which was nearby, Kirkman explained.
“It was more surprising than anything,” he told Latest Sightings.
“The cubs obviously thought this was completely normal and just carried on. These are the only lions and indeed the only cats that I have ever seen in the wild just plop down in the river to cool off and have fun in the water.
“It was a behavior that they uniquely had, but even so, it was not common to see.”
The lions eventually moved on after finishing off an earlier kill.
Photos courtesy of Latest Sightings.
