How do lions view humans?

Lions are extremely accomplished predators and adept hunters. For them, humans count as prey. Ignoring their prowess in this department is a big mistake.

smithsonianmag.com - Yes, Lions Will Hunt Humans if Given the Chance | Smart News

Why do Amish girls not cut their hair?

Amish women do not cut their hair and Amish men do not cut their beards after marriage for biblical reasons. “In the Amish faith a man's beard and...

Last updated Jun 17, 2022

How many tsar bombs does Russia have?

5,977 nuclear warheads Russia possesses a total of 5,977 nuclear warheads as of 2022, the largest stockpile of nuclear warheads in the world; the...

Last updated Dec 20, 2022

Promotion

Earlier this week, a female African lion attacked and killed a 29-year-old American woman on safari outside Johannesburg, South Africa. It's a tragedy, but given what zoologists know about lions, not one that's totally unexpected. While visiting a lion reserve on a car tour, the woman rolled her window down to take some pictures, according to Brent Swails and Dana Ford of CNN. She likely did not see the lioness approach. The animal stopped three feet from the vehicle before lunging through the window. A guide, who was also in the car, tried to fight the animal off, sustaining injuries to his arm. Staff chased the lioness away, and the woman died at the scene. Signs in the park warn visitor to keep their windows rolled up, and the part has had previous incidents stemming from open windows. While the facts of the attack are horrible, the lioness didn't do anything that's inconsistent with her biology, as Mary Bates explains for National Geographic. Lions are extremely accomplished predators and adept hunters. For them, humans count as prey. Ignoring their prowess in this department is a big mistake. Luke Dollar, a conservation scientist who directs the National Geographic Society's Big Cats Initiative, told Bates. "Almost any organism around lions might be a potential prey item, and for people to think that they are an exception is folly" Dollar said. "I would imagine that every other primate that co-exists with big cats is acutely aware of the position they hold relative to the top predators of the world." Given the intersection of tourism and conservation at sites like the lion park, humans sometimes acquire a false sense of security. As society expands to less developed areas, humans, lions and other predators have also inevitably crossed paths more frequently. Since not all attacks are reported, it's hard to put numbers on the number of lion attacks seen globally. Estimates range from 20 to 250. Tanzania has the highest population of lions in Africa, and between 1990 and 2004, the country saw 593 deaths and 308 injuries from African lion attacks. Aside from lack of awareness on the part of the human, there are a few things that might drive a lion to attack a human. The first and most obvious is hunger. Without horns or fangs, humans also look like easier targets to older or sick lions. In certain instances, females might perceive humans as a threat to their cubs. If the animal is injured, it also might feel threatened by the presence of a human. Though an investigation of the attack continues, park officials told SABC News that they do not plan to execute the lioness involved in this week's attack. Instead, she will be moved to a private part of the park. Dollar told Bates he hopes that the attack can at least raise awareness among tourists and encourage people to be careful while out observing the impressive predators in the wild.

What is a narcissistic selfish?

Narcissistic personality disorder involves a pattern of self-centered, arrogant thinking and behavior, a lack of empathy and consideration for...

Last updated Mar 31, 2022

What happens when you brush your teeth with baking soda?

Baking soda is an inexpensive, readily available teeth cleanser. As a mild abrasive, it can lighten some tooth stains, and it can help scrub away...

Last updated Jul 31, 2022

Promotion

What are tigers afraid of?

Tigers are naturally, instinctively, terrified of fire and resist jumping through flaming rings. In order for a trainer to get a tiger through a flaming hoop, that animal must be more afraid of physical punishment by the trainer than the fire itself.

carolinatigerrescue.org - Wild Animal Shows are Bad for Animals - Carolina Tiger Rescue

No big cat is ever safe, even if they have been declawed and defanged. Two painful attempts at making cats more manageable by humans, declawing and defanging causes an animal crippling pain. Often, shows perform these procedures to try and protect the public and trainers. They aren’t successful in doing much but causing pain and suffering for their exploited cats. With declawing, the entire tip of the toe past the first knuckle is amputated. Cats walk on the tips of their toes, but when they are declawed, are forced to walk on their heels and ankles, displacing their weight to joints that are not meant to hold it in such a way. Declawing often leads to arthritis and other health problems. Sometimes, claws will grow back through the pad, rupturing the toe pad, and causing infection, pain and abscess. With defanging, canine teeth are often pulled with pliers or filed down to the gumline, leaving the root exposed and the potential for infection and rot. Saber Tiger, a white tiger used in a magic show, was declawed and defanged before he was rescued and brought to Carolina Tiger Rescue. Eating was painful and difficult for him, so we worked to alleviate his pain by bringing in a dentist to do four root canals in a three-hour procedure. We continually monitor his teeth and monitor his pain levels.