Over-friendly lion mistakes 4×4 for one of his own pride and starts licking and nuzzling vehicle

ROAR emotion! Friendly lion mistakes 4×4 for one of his own pride and starts licking and nuzzling vehicle in South African wilderness

  • Shane the 15-year-old African lion shows his affection to large cars that pass by 
  • He is seen grooming, rubbing and licking them as though they are other lions  
  • African lions are considered to be the most social of all the big cats  

This is the adorable moment a confused lion mistakes big cars for members of his pride as he cleans, prunes and protects them. 

Shane the 15-year-old African lion shows his affection to larger cars in a similar way to how lions treat each other. 

He is seen grooming, rubbing and licking them as though they are animals of the same size. 

He is seen grooming, rubbing and licking them as though they are animals of the same size

Shane the 15-year-old African lion shows his affection to larger cars in a similar way to how lions treat each other. He is seen grooming, rubbing and licking them as though they are animals of the same size 

The conservation director at GG Conservation, Suzanne Scott, 50, said it was surprising to see the unusual behaviour but it makes her feel like ‘part of his pride’. 

Shane, from Harrismith, South Africa, cosies up to big cars as they drive through the reserve he lives on. 

He looks completely relaxed as he rubs his face and mane against the cars while they stay still. 

At one point he hooks his tail over the wing mirror and brushes up against the window.    

African lions are considered the most social of all the big cats and usually live in prides containing 10-15 others. 

Lions are the only big cats which live in a group, which is like a family unit – made up of roughly three males, six females and some cubs. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk