Silly lion trips and falls over a waterfall!

Lions may be the kings of the jungle, but they’re still cats. And I’m sure we’re all familiar with some of the shenanigans cats get up to!

Introduction

As part of the cat family, lions naturally have a water aversion. However, at times it is necessary for lions to cross over waterways. They are surprisingly very capable swimmers.

Where Do They Swim?

male lions okavango — Lions in the Okavango Delta. Hp.Baumeler, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In the Okavango Delta certain areas are often flooded, making them accessible only by swimming. Their swimming ability allows them to access new regions for hunting and territory.

Lion Falls Down Waterfall

This video was captured by a waterfall near Vosburg, South Africa.

Lucky Shot

Photographer Clare James captured this footage. Talk about right place right time!

Where Was He Going?

The large male attempted to cross a swollen river, but he misjudged the river’s force and was unexpectedly thrown over the waterfall’s edge.

Don’t Worry, He’s Alright

The fall over the edge appears clumsy. However, he promptly rises and walks away unbothered. James later expressed how lucky it was that she was filming the moment.

YouTube video — “Lion falls down waterfall”, Source: YouTube, Uploaded: Newsflare

Lions and Water

Male lion swimming. Image by GUDKOVANDREY via Depositphotos

Lions are known for their abilities on land and not in water. However, lions adapt to the circumstances in which they are given, such as in the Okavango Delta.

Other Adaptations

lioness in tree — A lioness in Ishasha Southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park (Southwestern Uganda). Ishasha lions are famed for tree climbing, a trait only shared with other lions in the Lake Manyara region. They often spend the hottest parts of the day in the large fig trees found throughout the area. It is still unclear why so few lions exhibit this behavior. Cody Pope, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In specific regions of East Africa a group of lions have developed a tree-climbing culture. This helps protect them from insects and helps them escape from the heat.

Resilience of Lions

Lion. King of the jungle. Image via Depositphotos.

Lions are resilient; they face multiple challenges daily, which they need to overcome to survive. Their ability to endure scarcity, protect their pride, and persist in the face of challenges showcases their remarkable fortitude and survival instincts, making them true icons of the wild.

Conclusion

A lion in India. Image via Depositphotos.

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Cayla de Souza, M.Sc. Ocean Sciences & Marine Biology

Author at Animals Around The Globe. MSc Ocean Sciences & Marine Biology

Cayla comes from a small coastal town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, near the renowned diving destination Aliwal Shoal, where her deep-seated passion for the ocean first took root. Family trips to the Kruger National Park are some of her favorite memories; there’s nothing quite like being surrounded by wildlife. These experiences inspired her to study the natural world and its creatures, a path she's been on for the past 5 years. She attained her undergraduate and honors degrees in marine biology and recently completed her master's degree in applied ocean sciences, majoring in oceanography.

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