Saved by the girls! Bloodied juvenile lion suffers two-hour savaging from older male

By LIZZIE EDMONDS

Savage: A male lion stands on his back legs and shows his teeth during a vicious fight in Cheetah Plains, South Africa

These dramatic images show a young lion fighting for his life after a two-hour battle with an older male.
In the incredible series of pictures, the bloodied lion bares his teeth and raises its claws in an attempt to take on the older male in Cheetah Plains, South Africa.
But the youngster's opponent is too strong for him - landing blow after blow with his enormous claws.

Agression: The younger male, determined to put up a good fight, stands his ground and roars at his opponent

Pounce: The younger male, who is covered in blood and has numerous deep wounds to his chest, launches at the older lion

Keeping watch: Two females arrive but keep their distance just as the older male, right lands a heavy blow on his young opponent

The cavalry: The females from the young lion's pride begin to circle the fighting pair who continue to take swipes at one another

In on the action: The females edge closer to the action, and growl at the wrestling males

In need of a hand: The young male, looking tired and on the edge of defeat, cowers at his opponent stands tall

Involved: One of the females strikes out at the older male, while the other appears to be moments from pouncing

Pick on someone your own size! The three lions outnumber the older male and roar at him in unison

Defeat: The trio force the male to stand down, although tensions still seem to be high

Calm: In a less frantic photo, the male looks at his young opponent as if to see if he is ok

It's all over: The older lion eventually walks off to a nearby watering hole and takes a drink after his fight

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2446420/Saved-girls-Bloodied-juvenile-lion-suffers-hour-savaging-older-male-ends-females-protect-him.html
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Lion that snarls like Beyonce

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Diva: This lion showed a striking resemblance to Beyonce when he was captured mid-roar at a wildlife sanctuary in South Dakota, America

Captured mid-roar, this lion appears to be showing its inner-diva as it bears a striking resemblance to American songstress Beyonce.
The incredible photo captures the powerful facial expression as the lion lets it all go and opens up its vocal chords.
And, with his flowing golden mane and penetrating gaze, the big-cat wouldn't look out of place on stage with the wondrous singer.

Two peas in a pod: Beyonce in her famous pose. The lion above was captured by wildlife photographer Debra Jones, 47

Debra Jones, 47, took the photo at the Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, South Dakota, U.S.
Debra, who works as an accountant, was astonished when her pictures of adult male lion Hercules included this amazing snapshot.
Debra said: 'I usually take pictures of the majority of the animals and I was taking shots of Hercules roaring.

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2437412/Lion-snarls-like-Beyonce-Photographer-captures-bizarre-quizzical-look-big-cats-face.html
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Have you met my pet cat?

By MATT BLAKE

Close bond: Timba, who is a year and six months old, can often be found playing with Annel Snyman in the garden and helping himself to food in her kitchen

Playing around in the garden and snuggling up for a quick stroke, this is Timba – the pet cat.
Except that Timba, weighing in at a whopping 120kg, is not your average tabby.
Now a year and six months old, the white lion was adopted by owner Annel Snyman when he was just a tiny cub.

Best fiends: As these remarkable pictures show, Annel has now formed an incredible bond with the 120kg lion, after adopting him as a cub in March last year

The 31-year-old, from the Waterberg region of South Africa, welcomed him into her home last year in the spring, and now shares nearly everything with her unconventional pet.
Annel, who also runs a guest house, has hand reared dozens of animals including six several kittens, a cheetah cub, five lions, a white lion and a leopard in her spare time.

Lion love: The 31-year-old, who lives in the Waterberg region of South Africa, just outside Bela-Bela, said she loved her unconventional pet

The animal-lover admitted some people struggled to adjust to her startling choice of pet.
‘The neighbours are amazed by him and I often see them driving past and slowing down to catch a glimpse,’ she said.

Couldn't let go: Big softie Timba (pictured here as a cub) also enjoys going for walks with Annel's six-year-old dog, Diesel and 'helping out' with everyday chores around the house

Paw-some buddies: As a cub Timba could often be found snoozing in Annel's bed

‘And relationships used to be a challenge as there was often some jealousy issues about who was going to snuggle up with who on the couch.’
She added: ‘There are times when it is difficult to do day-to-day things but I do manage to live a normal life – well normal for me anyway.’

Lion's lair: Annel's love for animals started six years ago when, with help from her mother and father, she opened a guest house - called Loebies Guestfarm - on the land where she lives

'They've also gotten used to having him investigating their coffee or any other sweet items they happen to have.
'He has a fantastic appetite and eats lots of meat - around 4kg every day.'
As a cub Timba could often be found snoozing in Annel's bed but having outgrown the bedroom the friendly feline still trys to cuddle up with Annel on the sofa.

Meaty treat: Naturally, Timba developed a taste for raw meat from a very early age

Training: But Timba also likes nothing more than to relax with Annel - and can be very attentive

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2429982/Annel-Snymans-pet-LION-Timba-eats-9lbs-food-day-cuddles-sofa.html
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They won't be so cute when they've grown up! Adorable white lion cubs cause a stir with their playful antics

The pair were born last month at Zoodoo Wildlife Park in Tasmania
Zoo officials are letting the public decide on the brothers' names

By TED THORNHILL

Awww-together now: The fluffy brothers were born last month at a zoo in Tasmania

Screw your eyes up and you could mistake them for lambs. But there's nothing sheepish about these little animals.
They are five-week-old white lion cubs, which were born last month at Zoodoo Wildlife Park in Tasmania.
The pair have just been allowed to meet their public - and are bound to be huge hit.

Name of the game: The zoo is letting the public decide what monikers should be given to the pair

Park officials will have to use 'here, kitty' to summon the fluffy brothers because they haven't yet been named.
And the job of deciding on their monikers is being left to the public.
Zoodoo owner Trevor Cuttriss told the Herald Sun: 'We are so excited here, especially to get two, because there are less than 300 white lions in the world and the species is extinct in the wild.

Cute alert: The cubs have been relishing all the attention and are a huge hit with zoo staff

'We will have them here for about 12 months before they will move overseas. So the public are invited in to play and interact with the cubs while they are here.'
Unsurprisingly, the zoo's staff have fallen in love with the animals, who are both relishing all the attention.
Mr Cuttriss added: 'They can get a bit feisty, especially when you are cleaning milk off their faces. And they are really starting to love their cat-and-mouse games.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2427865/Pictures-White-lion-cubs-unveiled-Zoodoo-Wildlife-Park-Tasmania.html

White lion numbers have declined by 80 per cent in the past 20 years, according to the Global White Lion Trust.
The charity explains that white lions are not albinos, but a 'genetic rarity unique to one endemic region on the globe - the Timbavati region in South Africa'.
The earliest recorded sighting of a white lion, the organisation says, was in 1938.

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2427865/Pictures-White-lion-cubs-unveiled-Zoodoo-Wildlife-Park-Tasmania.html
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What do you get when you cross a lion with a tiger? A liger! And these cute cubs will grow into the biggest felines on the planet

Three rare liger cubs were born at Novosibirsk Zoo in southern Russia
The month old female cubs have a lion father and a tiger mother
The cubs will eventually grow to be the largest known feline species

By STEVE NOLAN

Adorable: Three rare liger cubs took their first steps in the outside world after being born at a Russian zoo last month

With the facial features of a lioness but the stripes of a tiger, these adorable cubs are a rarity in the feline world.
The three little cubs may look cute now, but they will grow to be the largest known species of big cat in the world - the liger.
The three rare ligers cubs, which can grow up to 3.5 metres in length, have been keeping their liger mother Zita and lion father Sam on their toes at the Novosibirsk Zoo in southern Russia.

Loving: The liger's mother Zita is pictured lovingly grooming one of her cubs

Big cats: The cubs will grow up to be the largest known species of feline in the world

Playful: The liger cubs were pictured playing with their mother on their first foray into the great outdoors

The female cubs were all born a month ago but have just taken their first steps outside.
The tiny trio are all on a diet of their mother's milk at the moment but will tuck in to up to 100lb of meat in one sitting when they are fully grown.

Cosy: A month old liger cub snuggles up to its mother

A keeper at the zoo said: 'All three of the girls have completely different characters.
'One is always near their mother's side, one enjoys exploring and one is always misbehaving and play fighting.

Big eaters: The cubs are currently on a diet of their mother's milk but will eat up to 100lbs of meat in one sitting when they are older

'Visitors coming to the zoo have been desperate to get a glimpse of the newborns as they are so rare.
'People always comment on how it's hard to believe they grow to be so big as they are so cute and tiny at there moment.'
The animals have faint tiger stripes on a lionesque tawny background.
Male ligers can grow to up to 3.5 metres in length.
The first known liger dates back to 19th century India.

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2384011/Cute-Liger-cubs-grow-biggest-cats-world.html
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Just don't try to wake them up! Adorable moment two lions settle down for afternoon snooze in the sun

By MARK DUELL

Sweet: The adorable moment two big cats settled down for an afternoon snooze in the sun was captured on camera by British photographer Mike Krom

It might remind you of a game for quietening down children, where they lie down on the floor and try to remain still while someone tries to disturb them.
But although these sleeping lions might look exceptionally cute now in the sunshine - they would probably look a lot scarier if you tried to wake them up.

The adorable moment two big cats settled down for an afternoon snooze in the sun was captured on camera by British photographer Mike Krom. They looked at ease in the Portuguese sunshine at Lisbon Zoo, and at one point the larger male gently put one of his paws on the other lion.

source: read more at dailymail

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I said no pictures! Shy lion covers eyes with his paw as photographer snaps him

By OLIVIA WILLIAMS

No photos please: This lion covers his face with a giant paw to play hide and seek - or the photographer's attention was proving too much for him

Lions may be the kings of the jungle but this one has come over a little bashful all of a sudden.
Covering his eyes with an enormous paw, the lion was either finding the intense African heat in Rwanda too much, or he was feeling camera shy.
The retiring lion then settled down to keep his cub company in the undergrowth as the sun went down, but always kept an careful eye out for predators or potential dinner.

Resting with his cub: The lion shares a tender moment in the wilds of Rwanda, Africa

The lion's hide and seek moment was captured up close by amateur photographer Nelis Wolmarans in Sabyinyo, near the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mr Wolmarans, who runs a gorilla trekking lodge in Rwanda, said: 'He covered his eyes as if to hide himself. It was a really unique moment.'
Seeing a lion, known for their ferociousness, looking vulnerable has captured people's imaginations.
'The reactions to the shy lion picture have been overwhelmingly positive,' he said.

Majestic: Keeping an eye out, the lion's beautiful mane took on a reddish colour in the sunset

Contrary to popular belief, lions spend large parts of their day resting, conserving energy ready to hunt prey.
Males like this one can grow up to around six-and-a-half foot in length and weigh between 265 and 420 lbs.
This lion was careful to lie down behind his cub, keeping an eye out to protect him from harm. He will also have a responsiblity to protect his whole pride's territory, which can stretch over some 100 square miles.
In recent years, Rwanda has had to bring lions and rhinos over from South Africa.
Their numbers of lions, as well as other wildlife, had become dangerously low after widespread poaching.
The wars of the 1990s had a devastating effect on the wildlife as animals were hunted in ever larger numbers.

source: dailymail

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Meanwhile in Kenya: Lounging lions bring rush-hour traffic to a standstill as they have a lie-down in the middle of Nairobi road

By SARA MALM

Don't mind us: Two lions roll around in the road bringing rush hour traffic in Nairobi, Kenya, to a stand still

Two lions brought rush-hour traffic to a standstill in Nairobi, Kenya when they decided to have a lie down in the middle the street.
It was during the morning commute on the the edge of the Nairobi National Park that two young males appeared on the side of the road and strolled out in front of cars and trucks for a roll-around.
The African lions' antics caused tail backs as they found the busy road the perfect place to rub themselves in buffalo faeces,

They see me strollin': Cars began to pile up as the two male lions claimed the road for their own in the middle of the busy commuter hour

Amateur South African snapper Gareth Jones was one of the drivers stuck in the traffic jam last month and decided to get out and photograph the unique scene at 6.40am.
Gareth, originally from South Africa but now living in Kenya, said: ‘I had only driven about 500 metres when the shapes of two big male lions could be seen in the road.
‘They went into a ridiculous pose, with their rear ends up in the air and their faces down over some buffalo dung. They were trying to mask their smell so they could hunt undetected.
‘They both looked like they were enjoying themselves and it was an incredible start to the day.’

My spot: One of the lions looks perplexed as to what could be the problem as he stands in front of a line of cars

Even better: The lions find the perfect place for a lie-down - in the middle of the road in a pile of buffalo dung

Gareth's images show the lions rolling in Buffalo dung to mask their scent in a bid to go undetected when hunting.
But that was no consolation for commuters, who sat watching the ten minute display, before the lions left the road.
Gareth added: ‘After driving ahead of them, I began to take pictures of them walking up the road.
‘As the lions were walking slowly, all the cars entering the main gate of the park were effectively blocked by their pace. Everyone was very patient.’

Rear-view mirror: The two lions use the faeces to disguise their own smell for an upcoming hunt

No rush: As more cars were brought to a standstill, the lions rolled around on the tarmac

Nairobi National Park opened in 1946. It is located just over four miles from the Kenyan capital’s city centre and its skyscrapers can be seen from within the protected area.
The park is home to a wild range of species, including giraffes, leopards, wildebeest and hippos.
The closeness to the city proves a risk to the park as it is completely exposed to the pollution of the capital as well as threats from a growing population in need of land for farming and infrastructure.

Majestic: They appeared to have no fear of the cars, camera or humans during their walkabout in Nairobi National Park in Kenya

Roadkings: The animals showed complete disregard to the traffic trying to get around them as they lay down on the street

Casual stroll: The pair stopped traffic for a full ten minutes before they slowly made their way off the road

source: dailymail

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Face it, I'm in charge: Angry lioness attacks lion after he takes a swipe at her cubs

By JAMES BLACK

Hell hath no fury: The moment the lion luanched herself at the male to protect her cubs

This is the hilarious moment an angry lioness launched herself at a huge lion - but ended up sitting on his head.
This grumpy mum wasn't best pleased when the lion tried to try to tame her cubs - and pounced straight at the enormous beast.
But she obviously misjudged her distance - as she ended up sitting on top of the lion's mane like a hat - before falling to the ground below.

The lioness sprang from nowhere the minute she felt her cubs were under threat

The outraged mother comically misjudged her distance and ended up on the lions head

Wildlife park ranger Jacques Matthysen captured the comic moment on camera, as he patrolled the South African plains.
Jacques said: 'We had gone out to try and photograph some lions, and were met by a very playful pride of seven Lions.

The lioness lost her grip eventually slipping from the head of the male

'The four year old male Lion was playing with three young cubs - or rather, they were tormenting him, since all he wanted to do was have a rest.
'The older male and a female were walking 20 metres from us, rubbing their heads every couple of seconds showing affection.
'While watching them the other female appeared from the thicket. As soon as the 4 year old male saw the female, which is the mother of the cubs he was knocking over every now and again, he jumped up and jogged towards her.
'It looked like she was just waiting for the right moment. She stood still until the last second.

The male lion paid little attention to the incident and strolled on after the mother fell to the ground

'As he was half a meter away, she pounced on him. She did loose her grip though and quickly fell to the other side of him.
'With the female at his paws on the ground he just glanced down, as though to say: 'Was that it?'.
'He just kept on walking past her and us sitting in the Cruiser, and lay down to rest close to a thicket behind us.
'The cubs quickly saw the opportunity of mum laying on her side, ran towards her and started suckling.'

source: dailymail

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