A 3-legged lion survived crocodile-infested waters in what scientists imagine is the longest swim ever made by the animal – all to discover a lioness.
Jacob, a ten-yr-previous lion whose leg was amputated after getting caught in a poacher’s entice 4 years in the past, swam 1.5km throughout Uganda‘s Kazinga Channel with brother Tibu.
The waterway is dwelling to one of many densest populations of crocodiles in Africa, with hippos additionally lurking in the deep at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The pair had been filmed aborting two makes an attempt to cross as they tried to shake a suspected crocodile or hippo from their path, earlier than lastly setting off on the third attempt.
Lions have beforehand been recorded swimming as much as 200 metres – a few of that are minimize brief in lethal assaults.
The lions, seen as two small dots in the water right here, making the ultimate crossing. Pic: Luke Ochse
But the pair’s swim, documented in a examine co-led by Griffith University in Australia and Northern Arizona University, might have been pushed by an added motivation.
On the prowl for females
“It’s likely the brothers were looking for females,” stated Dr Alexander Braczkowski, from Griffith University.
The examine, printed in Ecology and Evolution, states there are a “very low” variety of lionesses in the park.
The lions had simply misplaced a combat for “female affection” in the hours earlier than the swim, in accordance with Dr Braczkowski.
Intrepid swimmers Jacob and Tibu. Pic: Griffith University
“Competition for lionesses in the park is fierce… so it’s likely the duo mounted the risky journey to get to the females on the other side of the channel,” he added.
“There is a small connecting bridge to the other side but the presence of people was probably a deterrent for them.”
‘Cat with 9 lives’
Jacob has already survived threats to his life on the park, having misplaced most of his household to poison for the lion physique half commerce.
Read extra:
‘Wid weekend’:Escaped parrot discovered 5 miles away
Six-legged canine deserted outdoors B&M settles into new life
Keep up with all the newest information from the UK and around the globe by following Sky News
Tap right here
He was additionally as soon as gored by a buffalo – all of which makes him “Africa’s most resilient lion” and a “cat with nine lives”, Dr Braczkowski stated.
“The fact that he and his brother Tibu have managed to survive as long as they have in a national park that has experienced significant human pressures and high poaching rates is a feat in itself,” he added.
“His swim, across a channel filled with high densities of hippos and crocodiles, is a record-breaker and is a truly amazing show of resilience in the face of such risk.”
The swim is “another important example”, he added, of wildlife species having to “make tough decisions” to search out properties and mates in a “human-dominated world”.
