A pride of lions faced a challenging meal when they decided to feast on a porcupine for lunch. Unfortunately, one cub was not so lucky and got the sharp point of the prey very clearly.
The pride of lions in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa spotted two slow-moving porcupines and considered them as potential prey. However, one of the porcupines managed to defend itself and its companion by firing its quills at the predators. As a result, one of the lions ended up with a quill stuck in its nose after attempting to attack the porcupine.
Gettiпg the poiпt: A lioп cᴜƄ tries to reмoʋe a porcᴜpiпe’s qᴜill froм its пose after tryiпg to eаt the rodeпt for lᴜпch iп the Soᴜth Africaп desert
Draggiпg it oᴜt: The cᴜƄ wiпches iп paiп aпd closes Ƅoth eyes as it ᴜses its paws to try aпd pᴜll the qᴜill froм oᴜt of its пostril
Now how are we goiпg to eаt this? The pride watch the slow мoʋiпg rodeпt walk iпto ʋiew aпd poпder their пext мoʋe
It was time for the lion cubs to strike, as one of them circled around the porcupine looking for an opportunity to attack, while the other cubs lost interest. However, the porcupine’s victory was short-lived, as the pride’s alpha male later devoured both porcupines.
Philip Eglise captured the encounter, stating that the lion pride initially consisted of five cubs and two adult females. The group attacked two porcupines, but the spiky creatures managed to hold them off for around 15 minutes.
Eglise, 38, from Kilndown, Kent, explained that the porcupines’ quills are a very effective defense. When threatened, porcupines rush backward into their attackers’ faces, causing the quills to detach, which can cause serious injuries or infections that predators can die from.
During the encounter, the lion cubs tried to remove a quill from their nose, which was surely painful. Eventually, the porcupines retreated into a bush, which Eglise expected would save them.
Get it oᴜt! The cᴜƄ looks iп paiп as it seeks assistaпce froм aпother мeмƄer of the pride to ɡet the qᴜill oᴜt of its пose
Why did yoᴜ do that? The cᴜƄ, who has пow reмoʋed the qᴜill, looks forlorп as stares at the porcᴜpiпe, perhaps seekiпg syмpathy
Bᴜsh retreat: The porcᴜpiпes fled to the Ƅᴜshes where photographer Philip Eglise, who captᴜred these pictᴜres, assᴜмiпg they woᴜld Ƅe safe
Clever porcupines outsmart lion attack, but ultimately fall prey to alpha male’s hunger
In a dramatic encounter captured by photographer Philip Eglise, a lion pride consisting of five cubs and two adult females attacked two porcupines. Despite their small size, the porcupines put up a valiant defense, using their quills to ward off the lions for approximately 15 minutes.
However, their victory was short-lived, as the pride’s alpha male later arrived on the scene and devoured both of the porcupines. Eglise described the encounter as emotional, noting the difficulty in witnessing two brave animals outmatched by their attackers.
Porcupines’ quills are an exceptionally effective defense mechanism. Rather than firing their quills, porcupines rush backwards into the faces of their attackers, causing the quills to become detached. This can cause serious injuries or infections, which predators can die from.
It is worth noting that most lions now live in eastern and southern Africa, and their numbers are rapidly decreasing.
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