It’s been an eventful week in the Kruger National Park. There are few experiences more satisfying than observing wild animals from the comfort of your vehicle, until they start chewing your tyre.
A visitor to the park, Louis Strauss, recorded a video of a lioness investigating his tyre this week – the very same tyre he had to replace two days before because a lion chewed through it.
Strauss was a guest at Jock Safari Lodge near Skukuza, and the sighting was captured near Malelane Gate.
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In the video you can see a curious lioness sniffing around the back right tyre, and then trying to bite it. After a few failed attempts, she moves to the spare tyre at the back of the vehicle and begins chewing that.
According to the post on Kruger Sightings, Strauss had a similar incident two days before and had to have the very same rear tyre replaced.
Lions and other big cats are attracted to tyres because of the warmth and rubbery smell – definitely not the taste. It makes for a great chewing toy considering the size of their teeth.
Have you ever wondered what happens if you get stuck inside the gate or, in this case, if a lion chews through your tyre? You should call for help via your cellphone, and if you don’t have reception you must wait it out. There is constant traffic in the park and rangers patrolling, so you should be discovered sooner or later.
Authorities warn you to never get out of your vehicle, no matter the problem, because you never know what’s lurking outside.
Makes you wonder if this is one of the lions chased from the watering hole by the tough little terrapin earlier this week.
