“Lions are the kings of the beasts. They are not afraid of anyone!” – that’s what many people think. However, in reality, the predators of Africa often have to face dangers. Even a small, at first glance, problem can turn into a real tragedy.
Lions are not the type of people who like to climb trees. They can, but they do so in exceptional cases. Trees provide a better view of prey or territory. However, sometimes a tree serves as a good shelter for them in case of danger.
Dangers? Haven't brave men moved to Africa yet, who can challenge lions?
It turns out they didn't transfer.
From hyenas to elephants, many animals can make lions tremble with fear. Hippos, crocodiles, rhinos. True, lions rarely hide from them in trees. So who do they climb up there from?
Maybe buffaloes? They can. If you search, you'll find a lot of photos on the Internet. Lions shyly flee from a herd of ungulates. But they'll definitely take revenge on them for their shame later. And sometimes from elephants or angry rhinos.
However, lions often climb trees for another reason.
In the wild, they have an enemy against which big cats are powerless.
These are bloodsucking flies. They suck all the juices out of lions.
To avoid being targeted by hundreds, if not thousands, of annoying insects, lions climb higher into the trees, where the breeze blows pleasantly from all sides.
Flies, of course, can also be found in trees. But, apparently, there are fewer of them at a height. Otherwise, what's the point of lions putting on circus shows? Especially males, who can't come down for hours.
What can flies do to lions?
Well, they bite a little – not fatally! There are flies, such as the autumn zhigalka, which are a bad joke. They may not suck all the blood, but they can carry an infection.
From time to time, these flies send entire prides of lions to the other world. One such case occurred in 1962 in the Ngorongoro Crater area of Tanzania. In those years, the bloodsucking flies multiplied more than usual and they got so much of the poor cats that their lives turned into a real nightmare. Of the seventy lions that lived there, only ten managed to survive.
So, if there is an opportunity to hide from insects in trees, lions will definitely take advantage of this opportunity.
