[www.keralites.net] Lioness & Her Cubs

 

But mum, you said it was easy! Lion cubs try to copy their mother's leap across a stream… and end up getting a soaking

• The adorable scenes were captured by photographer Paul Goldstein in Kenya's Masai Mara last month
• The mother leads five cubs to the edge of the river and shows them how to jump across ... to no avail 
• She appears to try everything from cajoling to picking them up, but they still will not dare risk getting wet
• Finally the two youngest give it a go and fall short by a matter of inches, getting soaked in the process 

By MATTHEW BLAKE FOR MAILONLINE

 

 

 

 

You can lead a lion cub to water, and even make it drink ... just don't try to make it jump across, as this patient lioness learned the hard way.

The mother lion tried to make her five youngsters cross a river where a freshly-killed topi was waiting to be eaten in Kenya's Masai Mara last month.

Wildlife photographer and Exodus guide Paul Goldstein arrived just as the scaredy cats were preparing to cross.

 

 

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Scaredy cats: The cats were being encouraged by the lioness to cross the water to where a freshly-killed topi was waiting to be eaten

 

 

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Masterclass: The pictures show five cubs being led down to the water, before being given a masterclass in leaping the obstacle by their mother

 

 

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We will not be moved! But still they would not budge, unwilling to risk setting foot in the cold water

 

 

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Force: The mother even tried force in a bid to persuade her cubs to cross the river

 

 

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Cajoled: And still they looked at her blankly from the opposite bank as she cajoled them with every motherly trick she had

 

 

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Take a break: The lioness then took her young to another part of the stream to try again where they drank some water in preparation

 

 

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Follow in her pawprints: Time and time again the mother leapt over the stream with Olympic grace only to fail in her persuasion

She, with the help of another lioness, began by giving them a masterclass in leaping the obstacle, padding down on the other side without getting a hair wet.

But the cubs were less than impressed and resolutely remained on the bank, refusing to budge. 

Paul explains: 'This particular morning in October we had an early start from Kicheche Bush Camp in the Mara Olare Conservancy to search for the fabled marsh lions. 

 

'The adults were clearly uncomfortable about this and made several attempts to entice them over but it was chilly that morning and clearly the water did not look lovely to the cubs. 

 

 

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Finally: Finally after yet another airborne example from their mother, the two youngest cubs leapt over

 

 

 

Easy peasy: At first it looked like they were going to clear the stream with ease

 

 

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Splash: But they fell short by a matter of inches, splashing down in the cold water

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Posted by: Fereshteh Jamshidi <fayjay81@yahoo.com>

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