How far would you go for a good meal? For this lion, the answer was ‘pretty far’.
The hungry male lion went all the way up a tree to fetch a carcass to feast on, in this spectacular sighting filmed by Bryan Malakou in the Thornybush Game Reserve.
For Bryan, this must’ve been a surreal viewing experience, as one usually expects leopards to climb trees in such a fashion, and not lions.
Lion spies carcass in treetop
The lion had been walking across the bushveld terrain when it spied the carcass, high up in the branches of a nearby tree.
However, instead of being intimidated by the height of the branches or the challenge of reaching the meat, it started to sprint towards the tree. This lion knew a free meal when it saw one!
Lion makes decision to climb tree
When it got to the tree, it started to climb with surprising dexterity. This was an incredible display of just how adaptable lions can be.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
While lions are not natural climbers like leopards, they are capable of climbing when motivation is high, such as accessing food or avoiding competition on the ground.
In areas where leopards often stash kills in trees, lions have learned to follow the scent and attempt to claim the prize, even if it means hauling their heavy bodies upward.
Lion succeeds in reaching the top of the tree
Adult male lions can weigh over 190kg, which makes climbing awkward and risky. However, this lion was willing to take the risk.
This lion made it all the way to the prize, and pulled the carcass down with surprising ease. It did not falter in bringing the kill to the ground, and walked to a suitable area, before settling down to enjoy its feast.
This behaviour highlights the intense competition among predators, where energy-rich meat is too valuable to ignore.
While lions usually dominate through strength on the ground, moments like this reveal their willingness to adapt and take chances when survival and hunger are on the line.
Lion settles down for a feast
Following its victorious climb, the lion settled down to feast. The carcass still had a surprising amount of meat on it so this definitely was a trophy for the lion.
It soon became evident that one of the lion’s eyes was bluish and cloudy, and that the lion was quite elderly. An elderly lion with a cataract or a damaged, cloudy eye is often forced to change its behaviour to survive in the bushveld. This might mean relying more on scavenging than active hunting.
Climbing a tree to reach a carcass may seem unusual for a lion, but for an ageing individual it can be a calculated decision.
Ageing lions are also more likely to take risks, especially if they are no longer part of a pride or have been pushed out by younger males. With fewer opportunities and declining physical abilities, adaptability becomes their greatest asset.
Woman Adopts Her Perfect Dog, But One Heartbreaking Vet Visit Changes Everything
In the vast sea of dog stories, this particular one had me break into a million pieces! Taylor and Ozzie’s story is real proof of how incredible the bond between dogs and humans can be.
You laugh together, cry together, you share the most intimate secrets and moments, and you just can’t imagine living life without each other anymore! But, what do you do when everything goes wrong? What happens then?
Ozzy’s life story will reveal how truly inspiring the human-dog bond can be, even in what can only be called the worst of times.
Ozzie Was The Perfect Dog
Source: @livingdogfriendly
Taylor adopted Ozzie at just a few weeks of age. She looked on Craigslist for puppies needing to be rehomed and saw a picture of a floppy-eared, brown pup with one blue and one brown eye – and she instantly fell in love!
Ozzie looked like the perfect dog, and the fact that she had to drive from North Carolina all the way to Washington D.C. didn’t stop her! She was inclined to adopt him!
“I was in college, didn’t have that much money, had 3 roommates, was in school full time, played tennis for college full time, and worked part time. How could I fit a puppy into that schedule,” Taylor wrote on Instagram.
Source: @livingdogfriendly
The two formed an amazing bond right off the bat! He was just an amazing pup that adapted into the new life in no time. In a way, both Taylor and Ozzie shared the same hobbies and interests.
Both loved hiking, going to the beach, walking in the park, and basically any outdoor activity.
“He is THE adventure guy. He loves to go hiking, to the beach, kayaking, in the snow, to breweries, parks, literally you put him in the car (or on a train, yes, he has been on a train) and he is ready for the adventure,” wrote Taylor.
Every time they had a chance to embark on a new adventure – they took it! Ozzie has always been an adventurous boi, and that really made his new mom fall in love with him even more!
Source: @livingdogfriendly
Years later, Taylor and her partner adopted another dog, Lulu, who became Ozzie’s best friend.
The two formed an incredible bond and really enjoyed each other’s company. Their playtime was practically a zoomie-show, and despite the fact that both were so energetic, they would always end the day with the sweetest snuggling ever!
Several amazing years later, Taylor noticed Ozzie limping, and she immediately rushed him to the vet. Unfortunately, the diagnosis was horrible!
The Devastating Vet Visit
Source: @livingdogfriendly
The vet took Ozzie to do some X-rays, and ten minutes later, he came out with the heartbreaking diagnosis. Ozzie suffered from osteosarcoma – a bone tumor and he only had a couple of months to live.
After receiving the news, Taylor was devastated. She called her husband who immediately left work and came. Luckily, there was one option to extend Ozzie’s life for several extra months – the amputation of his front leg and chemo.
Source: @livingdogfriendly
The couple didn’t think twice. They agreed to subject Ozzie to treatment despite all the hardship and extra commitment that awaited.
But, even through his surgery – Ozzie was just the most enthusiastic, happiest boi! He didn’t take the smile off his face even for one bit. He was a real fighter, and so were his parents!
Ozzie got his own, big bag that Taylor and her husband got just for walks. As he didn’t have so much strength (especially after chemo) to hike and walk like he used to, the couple carried him on their back, sometimes even for several miles.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Lulu & forever Ozzie (@livingdogfriendly)
They just couldn’t stand the idea of Ozzie not being able to enjoy his favorite things – and this was the only way to do it. His mom and dad did everything to make his quality of life better, and despite his progressing disease, Ozzie enjoyed every single moment!
The entire family helped Ozzie during his journey. Taylor’s dad, who was also battling cancer and lived in another state, felt the need to support this big boi. He’d send ice cream for Ozzie after every chemo session, which was just the cutest thing ever.
And, Lulu was just the greatest sister ever. Normally, she’s extremely hyper, but once she realized her brother was in pain, she turned into the gentlest sibling ever.
Your Memory Will Be Preserved, Good Boi
Source: @livingdogfriendly
After months of battling with his terminal disease, Ozzie sadly crossed the rainbow bridge. He lost the battle with cancer in March 2023 and went to eternal sleep.
Taylor and her husband were very heartbroken to part ways with Ozzie, but the fact that this beautiful boi had an amazing life till his last breath helped them cope.
“You touched so many lives, more than I had ever imagined a dog could. The love you gave was ever present and you lit up every room you walked into,” Taylor wrote in the touching Instagram post.
Ozzie was a unique dog, and he indeed made his family’s life so beautiful! Taylor and her family have moved to a new home in Virginia, but if I can say one thing with certainty, it’s that his legacy will certainly be remembered by his loved ones… Forever!
Be the first to comment on this article!