The lion is the king and queen of the savannah. The footage shows a full-grown male lion watching over his entire kingdom, including a herd of buffalo, from his mighty throne.
The lion was called Casper. He is easily recognizable due to his white color. His fur and mane are very light compared to the other lions in the video and those living in Kruger National Park, a South African wildlife sanctuary. A lioness approached Casper, and the other males he was in were also nearby, watching the buffalo approach.
The buffalo herd is there drinking water from the Nsemani Dam. The lake is a popular spot for wildlife viewing when visiting the park, but you should always do so with a guide. Lions and buffalo aren’t the only species that enjoy spending time there. Hippos and elephants also stop for a drink or to relax. All of these animals are dangerous to humans if they feel threatened. It’s important to note that Kruger National Park is a great place to see these majestic animals in their natural environment, but safety precautions are important.
The herd approached the lake, bending down one by one to drink. Nearby, Casper and his friends were in high spirits after watching the scene. They looked at the buffalo, then slipped into the tall grass. Are they going to have a snack on their own?
©Edwin Butter/Shutterstock.com
peaceful ending
Casper and his girlfriend return to their tree, uninterested in the buffalo. The herd watched them closely, and one of them even walked up to Casper as if to say, “Hey man, we’re here for a drink.” Animals such as buffalo that live in a herd gain strength from their sheer numbers. This helps protect them from potential predators, such as lions. Buffaloes also have horns that can be used for defense. Casper knows that even though he’s the top predator in his environment, that doesn’t mean he can take on an entire buffalo herd.
The video ends with herd and Casper parting ways. Throughout the encounter, they watched each other closely. At one point, Casper even moved toward one of the closer buffaloes. However, he’s clearly not interested in hunting, and stays in his tree for them to have a drink before moving on. Casper even lays down with his head on his paws, happily sitting on his throne.
next
- Three white lions team up against veterans, but still lose
- Watch two male lions play hide and seek over dinner
- This buffalo calf lets male lions take their place
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
