Kruger National Park (Again)

[choux]

I have to feel sorry for the wild animals :(

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2545497/What-parents-thinking-Terrifying-video-shows-children-safari-South-Africa-hanging-car-window-photograph-LIONS.html

So soon after the other report, too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-25731241

[237SJ]

I don`t think the lion was that bothered. The animals in some parts of Africa are so used to vehicles that they almost ignore them. The lion looked pissed off at being woken up as much as anything (and he had a female with him so was probably being protective).

[choux]

I was thinking along the lines of the likely outcome had he attacked the children.

The stupidity of the adults should not be confused with complacency.

[237SJ]

Maybe the children were South African and they know how to act around large cats. I have friends who were brought up in Africa and they used to get into quite close proximity to lions etc. They were used to it. They knew how to guage when an animal was going to get angry or be unpredictable. The first time I went to Africa (in 1982) you could travel around and be the only vehicle in the area. Nowadays, the game reserves are like Picadilly Circus and the animals are used to it. It was wrong to shoot that elephant though (if that is on your link - sorry I haven`t looked at it)

[choux]

It was.

[jno]

animals aren't really aware of you when you're in a vehicle; all they detect is the smell of rubber and diesel. I've been close to lions while in an open-sided van and they couldn't have cared less. So this is probably a lot less dangerous than it looks (though I wouldn't try it myself, just in case).

There was a Japanese tourist a few years ago who got out of his car and went up to a sleeping lion while his girlfriend photographed him. Now that was silly... and, as it proved, terminally so.

[DSJ]

Some of the local Africans actually cycle through Kruger National Park. The locals dub them Meals on Wheels.

[rsvp]

It doesn't matter how habituated to vehicles these animals are - casual visitors are not qualified to read animals and to judge how they are going to react in a situation. Agree with the OP and it's the animals I feel sorry for because they usually pay the price.

[ladybirder]

I'll second that rsvp.