Michael Botes submitted this video to Latest Sightings. He filmed it at MalaMala, within South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
Rare sighting
Michael’s video begins with an extraordinarily rare sighting. We see a pangolin, making its way through a field of green grass.
At the best of times, sightings of this endangered species are incredibly rare, so to see it walking around in broad daylight is all the more special.
Solitary and secretive, pangolins are a nocturnal mammal that feeds on ants and termites. They use a combination of powerful limbs, sharp claws and long tongues to extract food from nests.
But the defining characteristic of their appearance is their heavily scaled body. This, along with a foul-smelling secretion, is their main defence against predators.
Resting lions
Next, the video cuts to a seemingly unrelated scene showing a pride of lions resting. Unlike sightings of pangolins, this is not at all uncommon.
Lions spend up to 20 hours of every day conserving their energy for predominantly nocturnal activity.
In this pride, there are numerous cubs and sub-adults. And, as any parent will testify, the kids don’t always want to sleep when mom and pop are taking a siesta.
In fact, they get bored. So, when an unusual intruder strayed into their midst, it was soon the youngsters’ focus of attention.
A ball to play with
In the next scene, we see that one of the cubs seems to have found a ball to play with. Watched by its younger sibling, it holds the ball steady while trying to bite it.
It is only when the camera zooms in that we realise that the ‘ball’ is, in fact, a pangolin.
By the way the two cubs are examining it, this may be their first encounter with a pangolin. They seem to know it is alive and potentially edible, but they just don’t know what to do with it.
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Impenetrable defences
When threatened, pangolins curl into balls, covering their vulnerable head with their tails. Their interlinked scales are all but impenetrable, much to the chagrin of the cubs.
Frustrated and possessive of its ‘toy’, the cub snarls at its sibling. However, when it is unable to ‘open’ the pangolin, it relents and lets the smaller cub have a go.
But, when the cub tires, the older brother resumes possession and tries once more to unravel the puzzling pangolin.
According to Michael, some of the cubs played with the pangolin for six hours. Which says as much about their attention span as it does about the pangolin’s ability to defend itself.
However, not all of the youngsters were as intrigued, with some preferring to hone their fighting skills on one another.
Experience says sleep when you can
But when the wrestling got boring, they returned to the pangolin, much to the fascination of the watching tourists.
That the adults in the pride preferred to sleep is also telling. Perhaps they knew better than to waste precious energy (and sleeping time) on trying to get around the pangolin’s remarkable defensive armour.
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.
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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!
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