SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Two tenacious lion brothers have set a swimming record

Two lion brothers in Uganda in East Africa have set a new record for lions. They have, on six occasions, in the middle of the night, ventured out into the Kazinga River. There, they have swum one and a half kilometers – which is not entirely safe since Kazinga is full of large crocodiles and aggressive hippos.

» Updated: 19 September 2024, 20:59

» Published: 12 July 2024

Two tenacious lion brothers have set a swimming record
Photo: Alexander Braczkowski/TT

Two lion brothers in Uganda, East Africa, have set a new record for lions. They have, on six occasions, ventured into the Kazinga River in the middle of the night. There, they have swum a distance of one and a half kilometers – which is not entirely safe since Kazinga is full of large crocodiles and aggressive hippos.

The feat is described in the scientific journal Ecology and Evolution. Previously, lions have only been seen swimming from a few dozen to at most a few hundred meters. Normally, the big cats avoid waterways with crocodiles and hippos.

Kazinga is located in Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda, near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The story is that one of the animals in the duo, a ten-year-old male named Jacob, is famous for his ability to survive difficult situations. He has been severely injured by a buffalo, he has seen his family wiped out by poachers after lion body parts, and he has gotten stuck in a snare. Finally, he lost one of his legs in a steel trap, also set by poachers.

His brother Tibu has been with him all the time, but has not had the same bad luck. The researchers, led by Australian biologist Alexander Braczkowski, write that the fact that the two brothers have managed to survive for as long as ten years is an achievement in itself. Queen Elizabeth National Park is heavily affected by poaching, and the lion population in the park has halved in just five years.

The latter is likely the explanation for why the brothers ventured into the river. According to Braczkowski, it is likely that the brothers were looking for females, which are now scarce in the park after the poachers' ravages. The researchers are now warning that lions may disappear completely from Queen Elizabeth if poaching is not stopped.

The lion (Panthera leo) is the second-largest of the cat species. Over the past few decades, the population in Africa has decreased dramatically and now consists of only about 25,000 individuals, most of which are found in eastern and southern parts of the continent. In West Africa, the species is almost extinct.

Source: IUCN

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Tenje on alarm about rape in home care: "Shortcomings"
1 MIN READ

Tenje on alarm about rape in home care: "Shortcomings"

Man admits to terror plans against parliament
1 MIN READ

Man admits to terror plans against parliament

The National Land Survey's Archive Closed - Significant Impact
1 MIN READ

The National Land Survey's Archive Closed - Significant Impact

Many municipalities do not check criminal records
2 MIN READ

Many municipalities do not check criminal records

Sniffing dogs to hunt troublesome flatworm
1 MIN READ

Sniffing dogs to hunt troublesome flatworm

Green Party top politician resigns – behaved "inappropriately" at party
2 MIN READ

Green Party top politician resigns – behaved "inappropriately" at party

Suspected Rape at Hospital
1 MIN READ

Suspected Rape at Hospital

Fewer students graduate from vocational programs
1 MIN READ

Fewer students graduate from vocational programs

Suspected Foxtrot Leader Extradited to Sweden
2 MIN READ

Suspected Foxtrot Leader Extradited to Sweden

Rape at pub in Falun – man arrested
1 MIN READ

Rape at pub in Falun – man arrested

Lycksele closes maternity ward over Christmas – temporary staff lacking
1 MIN READ

Lycksele closes maternity ward over Christmas – temporary staff lacking

Large International Crackdown on Pirate TV
1 MIN READ

Large International Crackdown on Pirate TV

New cases of questionable hysterectomies
2 MIN READ

New cases of questionable hysterectomies

The Moderate Party increases – The Left Party declines
1 MIN READ

The Moderate Party increases – The Left Party declines

Hundreds of millions for emergency schools – stand empty
1 MIN READ

Hundreds of millions for emergency schools – stand empty

Heavy No to Stricter Sentences for Young People
3 MIN READ

Heavy No to Stricter Sentences for Young People

This is how the risks look with hormones during menopause
3 MIN READ

This is how the risks look with hormones during menopause

Police officer fired for socializing with criminal brother
2 MIN READ

Police officer fired for socializing with criminal brother

Car collided with water buffalo
1 MIN READ

Car collided with water buffalo

Man suspected of attempted murder in Piteå
1 MIN READ

Man suspected of attempted murder in Piteå