KNP LION PRIDE USED TO CARS, BE CAUTIOUS

[RogerFraser]

SA - KNP - The Kruger National Park (KNP) Management has received reports of a pride of lions north of Satara which are showing abnormal behaviour around vehicles such as the biting of tyres

Appealing to the public, the KNP Managing Executive, Glenn Phillips said “We have received information from various tourists who have witnessed this behaviour.

We would like to appeal to the open safari vehicle operators specifically to be on the look-out as the behaviour of the pride is of concern and might pose danger to occupants”.

Visitors who come across lions displaying such behaviour should ensure that their windows remain closed and those on Open Safari Vehicles should ensure that that they remain silent and keep all arms, heads etc. within the structure of the vehicle.

Guests who might have taken photos/video or have feedback on the pride are encouraged to share or post these on our social media platforms; so that management is in a position to try to identify whether it is only specific member of the pride or whether the entire pride has developed this behaviour. Guests are requested to photograph the lions in such a way to capture branding marks or ear notches.

“We also request visitors not to get too close to any animals for footage at a sighting, or refrain from placing any items on the vehicle exterior or tyres which might attract and encourage animals to approach the vehicle”; concluded Phillips.

Veterinary Wildlife Services will be collaring a member of this pride to monitor movements and will also mark all members of the pride to allow for identification.

Visitors can also report these to the Emergency Call Centres on 013 735 4064/013 735 0197/076 801 9679.

Issued by:
South African National Parks, Kruger National Park - Communications & Marketing Department.

Enquiries:
Isaac Phaahla, GM Communications and Marketing - KNP. Tel: 012 426 5315/013 735 4363, cell 083 673 6974 or email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org

KNP LION PRIDE USED TO CARS, BE CAUTIOUS

[Richprins]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1031833200610435072



Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
Aug 21

09:00
5 Lions with juvenile curious biting the cars etc
S100, about 10km from the H1-3
Near Satara
Tinged by the Van Stadens

[Richprins]

Lions are fascinated by rubber, for some reason...

Not that unusual, other predators sometimes too.

[Bushcraft]

Ja and I have found that if you have hit a few massive buffalo turds prior the scent seems to cause interest with some lions. Also if you had been in a prior sighting where a lion has rubbed past your car, then another pride can show interest.

The caged lions in the kzn mini drive through lion park show abnormal behaviour towards cars fairly often though which tends to indicate that continuous exposure to a stream of cars can have an impact.

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
9m9 minutes ago

09:00
Lions stationary
S100, 3km from H1-3
Near Satara
Tinged by Bertie

[Richprins]

Here is Heksie and fam with their lion attack early this year...imagine the swearing!



https://www.latestsightings.com/single- ... ruger-Park

[Dzombo]

I think that Lions develop this behaviour quite often

I remember the following incident that happened when I was a child:
We spent the weekend at the Krugersdorp Game Reserve and were driving through the Lion section when we came to a line of 4 or 5 cars all with flat tires. And some lions milling about near by. A person from one of those cars shouted at us to get going asap or we would suffer the same, as one of the culprits approached our car. Fortunately we got going before it managed to sink it's teeth in.

[stefan9]

Young lions and hyenas seem to love tyres.

[Richprins]

WATCH: When a lion tries to hitch a ride


https://youtu.be/k8jiknq9xMQ
When one goes on a safari, one longs for an up-close encounter with a wild lion. But Hannetjie van der Westhuizen couldn’t have dreamt of a more personal experience as this lion climbed on the car’s window! Video courtesy of Kruger Sightings’ YouTube channel.
5 hours ago



When you ask frequent Kruger Park goers what the top road for lions in the park is, they will most likely answer “the S100.” It is an open road with lots of open plains, attracting lots of prey, thus, has lots of lions.

On the 14th of August 2018, the S100 didn’t fail to deliver.

Hannetjie explains the whole event to us:

“There was a sighting of a pride of 5 lions, but, this pride in Kruger is famous for “interacting” with the cars. There was a young male who was especially curious.”

“We were very excited and scared at first, but then we realized that lion was more curious and playful and was just merely investigating a strange object.”

At the beginning of the video, you can see how this lion finds the mirror to be a very nice chew-toy. But after getting bored of that, it suddenly sees the people inside and almost looks like it is waving at them. He climbs onto the window with two paws, and tried to bite the glass!

“He was seriously chewing on the tyres, and I thought those sharp teeth may damage them, so we decided to move one.” In the park, tourists are allowed to drive with the windows open, and it is actually recommended since you can hear the sounds of the bush.

But… If you get to a lion sighting, where the lions are really close to the road, it is recommended to keep the windows closed, in case, well, this happens! This sighting could have ended quite differently if the windows were open.
Hannetjie commented: “Most of my 48 years of visiting the park, I have had to use binoculars and a lot of imagination to spot a lion, never ever had an encounter like this!”

https://lowvelder.co.za/449874/watch-li ... itch-ride/

[Lisbeth]

“Most of my 48 years of visiting the park, I have had to use binoculars and a lot of imagination to spot a lion, never ever had an encounter like this!”

Nonsense!