Okay soccer lovers, this is really ‘wild’! Here’s a guy who really comes alive, when he even sees a soccer ball, let alone has it thrown his way for play. This spirited animal has more beautiful hair than Beckham himself, and he could give him a run for his money. Bred in captivity at the Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa, Triton the lion is definitely happy in his habitat.
He was hand-raised with adoration by his keepers at the zoo. Although it would have been preferable for this incredible animal to have been free in the wild, the unfortunate truth made the zoo a safer place. Due to poaching and habitat loss, lions of his breed have suffered a rapid decline in the wild.
Other than humans, the greatest population of mammals on planet Earth used to be lions. That is no longer the case, according to the World Wildlife Fund. In fact they now list them as “vulnerable” (to extinction), which is only a step away from being labeled “endangered”. The work that organizations like the Johannesburg Zoo do, help to ensure that lions like Triton continue to exist.
According to those, like the woman who narrates in the upcoming video, the most challenging part of maintaining a good life for the big cats, is keeping them active and entertained. Whereas in the wild, hunting and stalking prey is a big part of the action, without that key part of their existence they can become bored. This would not be good for their overall health and survival.
Triton, the star of this footage, was finding his daily routine boring, according to the zookeepers in charge of his care. They threw him a soccer ball one day, and a star was born! It was just pure luck that they found the key to his passion. This isn’t particularly a “lion thing” as his four other pals weren’t interested at all. Watch this beautiful animal’s skills as he receives the ball! ENJOY this great footage!
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