Some adorable lion cubs thought dad’s tail, swishing back and forth because of the flies buzzing around, was a toy until dad educated them.
Cameron Schmidt, System Head Ranger at Pumba Private Game Reserve in South Africa, captured video of the encounter and shared it with LatestSightings.com.
Schmidt described the scene to LatestSightings, writing, “The playful cubs, full of curiosity, decided to explore their surroundings until eventually, their father’s flicking tail caught their attention. The dad lion’s tail was swishing back and forth, not out of playfulness, but because of the flies buzzing around the kill they had just made.
“However, to the mischievous cubs, this moving tail seemed like the perfect plaything. They kept sneaking up on it, pouncing, and pulling, totally focused on its movement. The dad lion, trying to rest, grew a bit grumpy with this game, he was losing out on some precious sleep.
“He let out a few growls, hoping to teach his little ones a lesson and chase them off. But the cubs, much like naughty kids, weren’t easily discouraged. They would take a few steps back reassess, and come right back and start all over again!
“Finally, after a few more attempts at tail-catching, the cubs got brave enough to grab it with their teeth, that’s when the dad had enough! He jumped up in frustration and that was when the little cubs decided that it was best if they stopped.
“They ran off, like little rascals that have been caught red-handed.”