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22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Lion cub eyes and nails

A lioness and a male lion killed an eland next to the 13th borehole waterhole in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park a few days before. There were also three cubs with the two lions. The den for the cubs was nearby – just underneath a thick bush. We park next to the lions on the kill and watched the interaction around the kill. While the lions were feeding on the carcass, the lion cubs were playing around. Here is one of the cubs sharpen and cleaning its nails against a branch of a camel thorn tree while keeping a watchful eye on us the vehicle. One can see the curiosity but also the caution in the eyes of the lion cub.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 12.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2024
Photo Location: South Africa
Camera: ILCE-1
Copyright: © Willem Kruger