Park ranger Richard Sowry was out on patrol on Wednesday when he snapped a pride sleeping on a road which would normally be busy with tourists.

But Kruger, like other wildlife parks, has been shut since 25 March as part of the coronavirus lockdown.

Big cats would usually only be seen by rangers on the roads by night.

How were the pictures taken?
As a ranger in one of Africa's largest game reserves, Mr Sowry performs an essential service and continues to work during the lockdown, checking on the wildlife and guarding against poachers.

While driving near Orpen Rest Camp on Wednesday afternoon, he spotted the lions on the road ahead and pulled up just five metres (5.5 yards) away to look at the unusual phenomenon.

As he took photos with his mobile phone, the lions did not seem bothered, most of them apparently fast asleep.

"Lions are used to people in vehicles," he explained. "All animals have much more of an instinctive fear of people on foot, so if I had walked up they would never have allowed me to get so close."

The oldest lioness in the pride is about 14, "which is very old for a lioness", so they are used to seeing vehicles.

Normally Mr Sowry would only see lions sleeping on the park's roads on colder nights in the winter, when the tar retains quite a lot of heat.

What rangers do not want, however, is for lions to start thinking that roads are a safe place just because they are now so still.

How is the lockdown affecting the park?
These quiet times have also seen lions as well as wild dogs venturing on to a golf course in the park but otherwise Mr Sowry does not think that the lockdown has had any major effect on the animals' behaviour yet.

"Kruger is a very wild place," he says. "It has been wild and it is still wild."

He is just happy to share his photos with people who cannot visit the park right now because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"These are difficult times for everyone and the intention was to bring people joy," he says.

To date, South Africa has recorded 34 deaths of people with Covid-19 and registered 2,506 cases of infection, making it the most affected country in Africa.

Its lockdown was extended on Wednesday by two weeks.

"Everybody realises the importance of the lockdown and the rangers are there to do their normal duties," says media officer Isaac Phaala. "To maintain the infrastructure takes quite a bit of work so that when the park opens, you don't start from scratch."

As for the lions, he adds, "normally they would be in the bushes because of the traffic but they are very smart and now they are enjoying the freedom of the park without us".

But why anyway, you might ask, would lions prefer tarmac to the softness of grass?

Probably for the simple reason that it had been raining on Tuesday night and, as Mr Phaala explained, "The tar was drier than the grass at the time - big cats and water don't mix."

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52314282

yaaaa.... ..f.t.c for the first time on nairaland, seun nd lacaselara come nd do something about this new position o, well i dedicate this to the new chief of staff "hunger 20"

Animals are now doing those things we use to do to them. They lie on our roads, come to watch us as we are quarantined at home etc.

It teaches us something.

hehehehe, this virus dey treat everybody fvckup.

The lions had two things in their heavy heart.
Firstly, make we rest and take fresh air and let the people stay back in their zoo because we own this jungle before civilization came to the place.

Secondly, we are hungry oo. Let’s wait for the first person to come this way make we eat human meat after scarcity of the meat!!

... add yours if you can!!!

Eggzactly

Animal Kingdom

The animals have chased us indoor using the zoonotic corona virus. They’ve now taken over the street.

Nigerian Animals such as goats, sheep, birds, police et al have taken over our streets

Mother Nature is taking fuuuullll advantage of this breather.


We've held the Poor Old Lady to ransom for way too long.

OP, but this your title na clickbait somehow o. The 'road' still dey Kruger Park na.

NaijadrivaCars:
Animals are now doing those things we use to do to them. They lie on our roads, come to watch us as we are quarantined at home etc.

It teaches us something.

They are not feeding us

Looks like an old photo

DanseMacabre:
Mother Nature is taking fuuuullll advantage of this breather.
We've held the Poor Old Lady to ransom for way too long.
OP, but this your title na clickbait somehow o. The 'road' still dey Kruger Park na.

Ermmm, them no dey dey dere before, na where many human being dey pass before. lol

Akunwafor:
Looks like an old photo

It's recent, the pics are clearer on dailymail, but I just chose to settle for this

Macsjebs:


Ermmm, them no dey dey dere before, na where many human being dey pass before. lol

Lol. Gathered as much from the post. But before I start to read I think say na Estate road.

Macsjebs:
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52314282

cc: lalasticlala, mynd44, dominique

Lions always do this in Kruger National Park. Nothing to do with corona.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8i0hjegneY

Same thing in Kenya


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGwEzl2ZDnM

hodari:

Lions always do this in Kruger National Park. Nothing to do with corona.
Same thing in Kenya

I guess this time around there is a change in their behaviour, they weren't sleeping in the videos; now they sleep on the roads during the day and are more relaxed knowing that there isn't any oncoming vehicle, photographers or any kind of human traffic...it's all there in the write-up

Ok

Med o

Lol... If dem born you well come walk pass

Na so their greatest threat are at home quarantining

Lol this is beautiful

As bold as a Lion

JasonJidenna:
For the religious folks, just imagine if this the only narrow way that leads to Heaven.

I will still make it

hmm

The animals are finally taking back The Jungle

Humans,

Ntoor

Even lions will be endangered species under Buhari hunger.... Coupled with lockdown

Its a norm in that park....

That's what happened when everywhere is silent and no movement as lockdown is affecting all roads, here in my Country lockdown is not as function as this, everyone will definitely have reasons to go out.

this is risky