Tug of war is one of the most popular, classic games of strength and endurance. In the wild, however, the game takes a bit of a different turn. Recently, a group of lions in Tanzania were filmed playing a game of tug of war with a warthog trying to escape. The footage, captured by an unaware group of safari-goers, shows a large group of lions surrounding a warthog, which appears to be trying to flee from the hungry predators. As the warthog pulls and struggles to free itself, the lions grip onto its body with their powerful jaws and claws, not letting it escape.
In the video, the warthog can be seen trying to pull away from the lions, all the while remaining on its feet. The lions, however, do not give up and keep tugging and pulling at its body, not letting it escape. After a few minutes of tugging and struggling, the warthog can be seen running away, seemingly unharmed. It is unclear why the lions were playing such a game with the warthog, as it is unusual behaviour for large predators. The lions may have been simply playing, as lions do engage in play-fighting amongst themselves in order to practice their hunting skills and strengthen social bonds. Alternatively, the lions may have been trying to tire out the warthog before finally going for the kill.
In any case, the footage of the lions and warthog playing tug of war is a rare and amazing sight that safari-goers were lucky enough to witness. It is a reminder of the wonders of the animal kingdom and the unique behaviours of its wild inhabitants.
