Parents worldwide can relate to the experience of being awoken by eager children. Just ask Mburri, a male lion from South Africa who recently had his sleep interrupted by his two energetic cubs, Impi and Dela.
A 24-year-old aspiring wildlife photographer, Zoe Cole, captured the heartwarming scene at the Selati game reserve in South Africa’s Limpopo Region.
Despite being the king of the beasts, his boisterous offspring treated Mburri as just another playmate.
Cole, who hails from Italy, volunteered at the reserve to help monitor and collect data on endangered species, including the pride of lions Mburri is a part of.
The pride boasts four lionesses, with Mburri as the only fully-grown male, giving him the undisputed title of king. This visit marked Cole’s second time at the reserve but her first encounter with the playful cubs.
The lion family soon emerged from the bush into a clearing, basking in the morning sun. While the two adult lions settled down after a night of stalking, Impi and Dela were a bundle of energy, tumbling and rolling around.
Cole noted that Mburri appeared less than thrilled with his cubs’ early morning antics, but he allowed them to jump and jostle him without issue.
Since Impi and Dela are Mburri’s offspring, their playful interaction posed no danger to them. According to Cole, the situation might have unfolded quite differently if the cubs had not been him.
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