Swimming with a Lion in South Africa

Photo: Telegraph/BARCROFT

After Bears add Tigers...
Okay. I just couldn't pass this one up. I wrote about a guy swimming with a 375 lbs black bear (he actually saved it from drowning), about a white tiger swimming, and about girls swimming with tigers. Seems like a theme is developing, and this is a nice addition. Read on for details.

Swimming with a Lion
Animal behaviourist Kevin Richardson, pictured on the photo above swimming with a lioness in the Crocodile River, near Johannesburg, South Africa, is quite close to the animals that he studies and raises.

The Telegraph writes:

With his unusual methods, he has developed some exceptionally personal bonds with his students, playing, sleeping and even swimming with animals. Taking a well deserved swim in the Crocodile River, just south of the Magaliesburg mountains, Mr Richardson, 34, was joined by Meg the lioness.
Weighing a staggering 185 kg this boisterous tawny lioness playfully splashed around with the experienced behaviourist.

"We went swimming purely for Meg's enrichment," Mr Richardson said.

"That's one of the reasons I believe my animals are so relaxed.

Protecting Wild Animals from Extinction
But behind this feel-good story is a sad truth: The number of lions in the wild is declining rapidly. From about 350,000 15 years ago to about 25,000-30,000 now.

Conservation efforts must increase, not just for lions, but for all kinds of animals on land and in the oceans. Sharks, for example, are another great predator with a population that is only a fraction of what it once was.

If you want to help, here are a couple good places to start:

Lion Guardians

Lion Conservation Fund

Via Telegraph

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