Lion Prides Have Taken to Climbing Trees in Africa
Lions are not expert tree climbers like leopards, but in some areas and prides, climbing trees has become a common behavior. These images were taken in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, but similar behavior has been observed in other parts of Africa, including Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda and among the Xudum pride in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.
Climbing offers practical benefits such as escaping the heat, avoiding biting insects, and gaining better vantage points. However, their size and weight, with males reaching up to 250 kilograms (550 pounds) and females up to 180 kilograms (400 pounds), make falling from trees a significant risk.
Leopards, which rely on trees to escape predators and store their prey, face increased competition and threats in areas where lions also climb trees, potentially disrupting their survival strategies.
Photographer Daniel Rosengren spent five years with these lions, building trust and gaining familiarity with their behavior. This allowed him to capture such close and detailed shots using a DSLR camera.