Watch: Lion cubs test tortoise’s defences
Three lion cubs investigated a leopard tortoise at a Gauteng game reserve in an encounter showing how young predators explore and learn.
An encounter between three lion cubs and a leopard tortoise at a private game lodge within the Greater Dinokeng Game Reserve in Gauteng has shown just how fascinating wildlife interactions can be.
The video, taken by field guide Christopher Liebenberg, was shared by Mongena Private Game Reserve on its Facebook page on Sunday and has since garnered more than 9 000 views. Caxton Network News reached out to the reserve to learn more about the sighting.
Cubs’ curiosity on display
Lodge manager Waldo Toerien says the incident between the Nkawu Pride’s cubs, roughly a year old, and the tortoise unfolded last week. In the video, curiosity turns into attempts to bite the shell and the tortoise’s exposed limbs and head. As the YouTube description notes: “It is a difficult scene to watch, but an honest reflection of how young predators learn through trial and exploration.”
Toerien adds that young cubs often interact with various objects as they hone their skills and explore the natural world. “It is quite common to see this type of behaviour.”
He explains the roughly 30-minute interaction: “The cubs discovered the tortoise and started playing around with it. This would have been due to their curiosity as well as the tortoise being a potential food source. The tortoise can retract its head and legs back into the shell, creating an armoured dome which is almost impenetrable.”
Tortoise survives encounter
After being unsuccessful, the cubs left the tortoise and continued with their day. Toerien says it was seen the following day, sheltering beneath a fallen tree north of the pan where the incident occurred. “It was moving, suggesting that it survived the encounter, although the extent of its injuries could not be determined.”
Two guides were present, but no intervention took place as it was natural behaviour displayed by all the animals involved. “We always let nature take its course if the associated behaviour is natural and has not been influenced by unnatural factors. We keep our distance from the scenario playing out so as not to influence the outcome thereof.”
A message for visitors
Asked if there is a message for visitors or viewers, Toerien says: “The natural world has many beautiful and interesting scenarios and encounters, often involving smaller animals, which are often overlooked because many people only focus and look out for the ‘bigger’ things. Slow down and take everything in.”
