Male Baboon Steals Lion Cub And Grooms It In A Tree – Kruger National Park

Kurt Schultz of Kurt Safari Tours, captured this amazing sighting in the Kruger National Park.

Kurt came across a troop of baboons near Skukuza camp in the Kruger National Park. The baboons seemed restless and it was soon discovered that one of the male baboons was carrying a Lion cub.

Lionesses often hide their cubs in the nooks and crannies of large boulders and rock outcrops to protect them from other predators and dangers while they go off hunting.

Kurt said, “Knowing the area, I know there are cubs present in the area lately and being early morning, and close to a granite rock face, I suppose the baboon troop rested during the evening on the rocks. Then probably during the early morning moved down to start their day foraging for food came across the hidden Lion cub.”

“I first thought it was a female baboon but it was in actuality a young male baboon. The young baboon crossed the road and climbed up a marula tree. I waited for about 30 min before it came into view and was moving from tree to tree, the rest of the troop then moved away and the baboon was grooming and caring for the lion cub as if this was a young baboon.”

Kurt had to leave the sighting as he had an appointment at 9 am.

Some people have commented on social media that the Lion King was happening “real life” referring to the scenes in the movie where Rafiki the baboon raises Simba up to anoint him as prince or the next in line for the Lion’s pride thrown and king.

However in reality Africa is a bit more brutal. Baboons are known to kill young leopards and sometimes lion cubs. After 20 years of guiding this is the first time Kurt has seen anything like this. He is referring to how the young male baboon took the cub up the tree and began grooming it, seeming to care for the young lion.

Because Kurt had to leave the sighting we do not know what happened to the young lion cub. Book a trip with Kurt Safaris here.

Watch a video of the amazing sighting below: