key point:
- This article covers a video of a lioness rescuing a zookeeper from an attack by a male lion.
- With two lions and two zookeepers in the footage, things moved quickly.
- The lions continued their attack despite a second zookeeper’s attempt to free their partner.
- The lioness then came to the rescue and saved the zookeeper.
Going to the zoo is a good way for humans to observe nature up close. Often, it reminds us how beautiful animals are and how lucky we are to see them from a safe distance.
As it happens, however, we’re easily accustomed to seeing the world’s deadliest animals up close, knowing we’re safe behind glass.
When we forget that the animals we think of as “cute” are actually top predators, we get in trouble. As this video shows, when one top predator decides to let you eat your lunch, only another predator can save you!
In the clip, we see something that reminds us all Lions are cute, but they no tame. The video starts off rather abruptly, but we can assume something happened beforehand.
Two zookeepers are in the lion enclosure, either performing or feeding. We knew that whatever it was, it was a public event because there was a huge crowd watching what was happening.
With two lions and two zookeepers in the picture, things moved quickly. The big male lion decided it was time to bite the hand that fed him! In an instant, the male lion ran over and began to attack the zookeeper on the right side of the enclosure. Amidst the gasps and cries of the crowd, they realized this was definitely not part of the show.
Grab the zookeeper’s leg and pull him down easily. Compared with weak humans, the lion is so powerful! Things start to get a little hopeless as Zookeeper goes down. Even the strongest man in the world pales in comparison to the average lion.
Although another zookeeper pulled the male lion and told his mate to leave, the lion appeared intent on attacking him.
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Then, on the left screen, something amazing happened. Another lion that was performing with the group at the time was a lioness who came running up and trying to help. Jumping on the back of a lioness, a lioness is more convincing than a man trying to help!
By being distracted, the man was able to get up and run to the side. Still, in some frenzied fashion the lion chased him. This time, however, the lioness’ intervention was more direct.
She cuts off the male lion and steers him aside, like a friend stopping another friend from fighting. Whatever the reason for the male’s aggression, the female knows it’s in everyone’s best interest to stop it.
Watching the video, it is not difficult to see that the only thing that can stop an angry male lion is a calm lioness! Maybe lions are not that different from humans, huh?
Is it normal for captive lions to be aggressive?
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Lions do not naturally attack humans in nature. Attacks can happen, but most lions don’t bother to attack humans unless they are provoked, their cubs are being protected, or food is scarce. Although not aggressive, lions avoid conflict with humans as much as possible. While lions in the wild tend to be less aggressive, attacks have been reported in zoos around the world where human interaction is common.
In addition to roaring, lions communicate by scent-marking their surroundings. Other signs of agitation may be their facial expressions and body posture that resemble a house cat. Lions typically show their anger by baring their teeth, pulling back their ears, and twitching their tails.
Be sure to check out the insane video clip below!
Next:
- Watch a lioness defend her cubs against an aggressive male – a mother’s love has never been stronger than a defensive lioness!
- Watch two giant lions fight for dominance in slow motion – if you thought lion fighting was intense, wait until you see it in slow motion!
- Watch a brave lioness try to stop a stalking male from killing her cubs – see what a mother is willing to do to protect her cubs.
- Watch two crocodiles fight to the death in a furious contest – even other crocodiles!
- Watch a baby penguin escape from a seal hunt – the Arctic is a wild place, and a penguin battles a predator to survive.
- Someday this tiger will learn how to ambush. Until then, the animals are safe – as one of the most ferocious beasts in the world, this tiger doesn’t really have much to show for it.
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.
