A pride of lionesses on the road at Kruger National Park. Picture: Unsplash
X users have expressed outrage after a video of a lioness being bumped by an impatient driver emerged on the social media platform.
The incident occurred on a road between Satara and Oliphants Camp at Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga.
In the video, a pride of lionesses is sighted on the road, slowing down traffic as tourists attempted to take footage of them. But an impatient driver in a Toyota SUV with a caravan in tow is seen bumping one of the lionesses twice in an attempt to move it off the road.
The SUV has a Gauteng number plate, which can be visibly seen when zooming into the video.
Unacceptable!@SANParks Could you please check the registration of the vehicle and find the driver that bumped the lion on purpose because he was in a hurry and take proper steps to deal with them.Thank you @CWitvrouwen🙏🏿.Via Safraan Sulliman pic.twitter.com/pdO0INb1mI
— The Real KING OF THE JUNGLE (@EdwardthembaSa) August 11, 2024
Social media user @EdwardthembaSa also The Real KING OF THE JUNGLE, shared the video and alerted South African National Parks (SANParks) to the incident.
“Unacceptable! @SANParks Could you please check the registration of the vehicle and find the driver that bumped the lion on purpose because he was in a hurry and take proper steps to deal with them.
“Thank you @CWitvrouwen 🙏🏿.Via Safraan Sulliman,” said the social media user.
SANParks responded that it had taken action against the driver of the vehicle with reports, suggesting that the driver of the vehicle would be slapped with a R1 500 fine.
“Please note that the incident of a vehicle bumping a lioness at a sighting in #KrugerNationalPark has been dealt with. Action was implemented as soon as we were alerted of the incident. Thank you for reporting the matter to us,” said SANParks.
🚨SOCIAL MEDIA ALERT🚨
— SANParks (@SANParks) August 12, 2024
Please note that the incident of a vehicle bumping a lioness at a sighting in #KrugerNationalPark has been dealt with. Action was implemented as soon as we were alerted of the incident. Thank you for reporting the matter to us.
However, social media users believe that the fine isn’t adequate punishment for the violation of park rules.
When driving in South African national parks, the rule is that animals are always given right of way.
This is disgusting. They should be banned from these parks
— BevDiva (@BeverleyMorgan) August 11, 2024
Commenting on the video, @BeverleyMorgan, said: “This is disgusting. They should be banned from these parks.”
Relax and chilax!! That wasn't a bump, please....😌. If anything, it was never an intentional bump but was a mere millisecond reflex reaction by the lioness. If you aren't used to them, don't judge from a novice point of view. Big cats are naturally jittery from unaware touches.
— The Untamable (@TheUntamable1) August 11, 2024
Another user, @TheUntamable1, said: “Relax and chilax!! That wasn't a bump, please....😌. If anything, it was never an intentional bump but was a mere millisecond reflex reaction by the lioness.
“If you aren't used to them, don't judge from a novice point of view. Big cats are naturally jittery from unaware touches.”
That cat was not supposed to be touched in the first place……A little bit of patience could’ve gone a long way..
— The Real KING OF THE JUNGLE (@EdwardthembaSa) August 11, 2024
And @EdwardthembaSa responded: “That cat was not supposed to be touched in the first place……A little bit of patience could’ve gone a long way..”
Why would you bump a wild animal in its habitat?? All he had to do was wait for the lions to get off the road
— Kumbana wa MuRonga (@Languta88) August 12, 2024
@Languta88 said: “Why would you bump a wild animal in its habitat?? All he had to do was wait for the lions to get off the road.”
R1500 for this incident is unacceptable. Peanuts as a fine. He should be charged more and banned for a long time entering the park.
— MF Kika (@MFaiselkika) August 12, 2024
Or gone for good. Make him pay towards an animal rehab project etc. Not once off but for a good few years .
Whilst @MFaiselkika said: “R1500 for this incident is unacceptable. Peanuts as a fine. He should be charged more and banned for a long time entering the park. Or gone for good.
“Make him pay towards an animal rehab project etc. Not once off but for a good few years.”