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Lion

 

Sometimes humans riding around the bush run into lions lying down in the middle of the road. No kidding - the uber cats just plop themselves on all sides of the road as the humans excitedly click their cameras, thanking whatever deity they believe in for their good fortune. After all, not everyone gets lion sighting bragging rights.


A friend and I ran across this handsome boy during a recent trip to The Kruger. A giraffe had recently died of natural causes, and the lions and scavengers were gathering. As we approached the sight, we spotted dozens of vultures lurking on the branches of dead trees, like a scene from The Jungle Book, but without the technicolor. 


We expected a feeding frenzy, but the sight was calm. The fallen giraffe’s body appeared untouched. Maybe because we were, thankfully, parked at an angle that hid the carnage happening outside of our view. Several lions were lying or ambling around, and watching them was exhilarating - especially since this guy plopped and posed directly outside my window. Thank you, young man, for the photo op!


Lions are, well, lionized in literature, art, and movies. They are depicted as brave and mighty kings of forest, jungle, and bush. However, I’m not convinced they deserve the honor simply because they act like BMOC. Truth is, they are pretty darn lazy - they eat, sleep, mate, repeat. And, like the wild dogs, they are ruthless predators because they eat their prey alive. 


Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing the lions, but they are genetically nature’s bullies.


Have you known people who act like lions-bombastic bullies who rule cruelly and without compassion? Ones who eat people alive because they can? I sure have.


I can forgive lions because their behavior is key to their survival. But, the truth is, humans are not wired like lions; they make a conscious choice to act like bullies; this I find unforgivable.

                                               Don’t be a lion!


#lions #kingofthejungle #bekind #dontbealion #writing #personalessays #ilovethebush #thekruger #lastmonthsinsouthafrica

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