Mom Honey Badger Leaves her Baby to the Lions

A newborn honey badger pup found itself stranded and all alone when it was found by 3 lions in the middle of the road.
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Leon Badenhorst, a 37-year-old accountant who's also a big-time wildlife photography enthusiast, witnessed this very unique sighting. Leon had this unbelievable experience while driving on the H9 tar road near Phalaborwa Gate in Kruger National Park. He caught the whole thing on camera and shared his footage and story with LatestSightings.com.
Leon left Letaba Camp early in the morning. He wanted to spot some nocturnal birds like Nightjars. As he was driving, something really exciting happened. He saw not one, not two, but three male lions just lying in the middle of the road. Leon was the first car there.
“I stopped my car, hoping the lions wouldn't mind me being there. They were relaxed with me and did not move off. So, I slowly inched closer, to get a better angle for photos and videos.”
“After spending a few moments with them, one of the lions got up and started sniffing at something on the road. I thought it was just some buffalo dung at first. But when I zoomed in with my camera, I realized it was a tiny, tiny baby animal! At first, I couldn't tell what it was. It could have been a dwarf mongoose or even a hyena cub because of its color.”
“The sight of this tiny creature, alive and all alone with these lions, made me feel sad and curious all at the same time. I could hear tiny squeals, but my camera couldn't pick up the sound. The lion seemed curious and was strangely gentle with the little one. Using its paws, it tapped and “played” with the baby animal.”
“After the lion was done with its investigation, it realized this was something it could eat! At that exact moment, I realized what I was looking at, it was a tiny honey badger! the lion then picked it up with its teeth and walked off into the grass. When the lion came back, the baby was no longer with it, and I didn't hear the squeals again.”
After sitting with these lions for quite some time, Leon noticed there was this weird, bad smell around. He thought maybe the lions had taken down their mom, which is extremely sad because honey badger moms are known to fight fiercely to protect their babies. Leon didn't see any signs of a struggle, like blood or injuries on the lions, which just added to the mystery.
Honey badger sightings in Kruger aren't extremely rare, but because they are mostly active at night, you don't see them often during the day. And seeing a tiny pup? That's even rarer because their moms keep them really well hidden. So, having lions around and no mom in sight made this sighting unusual and special.
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[@elizabethflynn4790]

I love how both lions were like "where is this kids mother!"

[@jeniferleverette5583]

Where's CPS?

[@christopherjackson6434]

@ 1:21 The Lion is checking for a pulse.

[@killer008r]

​@@christopherjackson6434 The lion is checking for the mother, so He can eat the baby without a fight.

[@christopherjackson6434]

@@killer008r Lol. If I put my paw here, and the mother doesn't show, I can eat it 🤣🤣🤣

[@killer008r]

@@christopherjackson6434 sniffed In the air to see if the scent is there

[@MuziqleMood]

That Lion was like "oh hell no, I've falling for this too many times already. Where she at, sniff sniff! Oh Ms Badger! Ms Badger! Honey, you forgot something"!

[@KingCarolina_]

Yea as if a honey badger of any kind has a chance against a Lion. Y’all slow.

[@luckycharmsone287]

​@KingCarolina_ there is documentation of honey badgers taking on lions, bears and other large animals

[@sheilabranch9808]

That lion was like , yo fred come look at this belongs to honeybadger .😂😂

[@MuziqleMood]

@KingCarolina_ all I'm saying is that he wasn't falling for "this your baby"! I'm sure he has plenty of baby mama's. He picked it up and was bringing it back to her. Lol

[@madeinussr7551]

@@MuziqleMood lmao Good one

[@stevocanuck]

it amazes me that they can recognize a newborn and starts to be gentle

[@SteveSmall-nj3bt]

Yes I wondered the same thing

[@sadf1416]

Care to elaborate, smart-ass?@@thehawkus

[@Mr.HonestRe]

You are adorably stupid.

[@gloriagroves5574]

​@SteveSmall-nj3bt Cats play with their food first, then they devour it.

[@jewelhaines8842]

​@thehawkus sure you are!! 😏

[@johnwhite6025]

I love how everyone assumes he took it there and left it instead of eating it

[@arystanbeck914]

That. is Disney influence

[@tripsix263]

@@arystanbeck914 like a lion cares that some ones watching

[@arystanbeck914]

@@tripsix263 like a lion reads your comments

[@billwesley]

Honey Badgers have glands similar to a skunk, nothing wants to eat a skunk. The photographer mentions a "strange smell". Lions attack Honey Badgers most likely to drive them off as they do with many competing predatores but not to eat them, more meat left for the lions then. We don't know what happened after the lion came back. Earlier on the mother likely sprayed at the lions as would a skunk so she was likely to still be alive and may have come back for her baby, or her baby may have been sick and suffering so she left it to the lions on purpose, we don't know what happened, but animals are a lot more complicated than most people give them credit for, it seems the most certain to kill is a human being, many of whom will kill for sport even if not hungry or threatened

[@dietrichdietrich7763]

the lion said mini honey badger to go box please just a kids meal snack

[@0nfiRe]

the lion was like "this is too easy. am i on candid camera?"

[@sharonjose7557]

Lol😂😂😂😂😂

[@dianagoldenberg818]

Parkinson

[@CountryOverParty]

Crying laughing😂😂😂😂

[@vanessalawrence1008]

But he kinda was on candid camera

[@TonyFurnari]

​@Co hi I yt? 8ntryOverParty

[@queeniam2246]

Lion trying to pick up just like a mother would. Trying to be gentle.. ❤️

[@nancygoo3405]

Soft mouth, really incredible!

[@alexthornton672]

That's a male

[@killer008r]

Also, he ate it.

[@user-yz1qq9dt1n]

​@killer008r Oh no, I dont want to think he did...he look like he was trying to save him😢.

[@killer008r]

@@user-yz1qq9dt1n no he didn't. He looked like he was going to eat it. Also the description says that's what happened

[@karynsuepohlmeier2109]

He was mesmerized by the tiny creature. He knew it was a baby but didn't know what to do with it. ❤🦁💙

[@Johnnyprc]

Did you read the description? He figured it out and ate it.

[@OAlemaozinho]

You watched too many Disney movies

[@bradsanders407]

He knew what to do with it. Just didn't want to look like an asshole in front of the camera

[@jewelhaines8842]

Poor little Baby Honey Badger!! 😪❤

[@ginamikel1056]

Why did she leave him 😭😭😭

[@jewelhaines8842]

@@ginamikel1056 Instinct. The mother dropped the baby to save herself. 😔

[@missg9348]

I wish I could see the rest I hope him don't eat it😢

[@jewelhaines8842]

@@missg9348 I know!! Me too!! 😪

[@killer008r]

​@@missg9348 that lion definitely ate it.

[@mushroomcaps]

Can you imagine a honeybadger that was raised by lions? And living within the pride?

[@Nuts4peanuts]

😂that’s a movie I’d like to watch!

[@francolenin8877]

Honeybadgers are bolder than lions

[@mari02132]

From badass to badass MF

[@junevassey8739]

Thru God All things are possible!

[@Susan_R]

Yes, and it would become LEADER of the pack. They are fearless

[@EduardoSanchez-un2hh]

Lions were like "Nope, too many witnesses. I don't wanna be the bad lion who ate a baby"

[@divinepraise6931]

Wow, Great Observation 😂

[@m.6343]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@kathleenchaffin2591]

Ha!

[@Cozycatdance]

But the guy shooting it thinks he did eat it

[@dwamish]

I'm surprised that last lion, who appears to be a young male, didn't snack on it immediately, given he also appears malnourished - vertebrae clearly visible right at end. But I'm no biologist so...??

[@gerardjandayan4184]

Looks like the lion was sniffing the air looking for that baby's mom.

[@letthelovework966]

Yes!

[@gamingmatrix7644]

lol that is face they make when they taste something they dont like

[@ProjectHyena]

​@@gamingmatrix7644 Nope he tried to pick scent. But the honey badger cup should be in sett or burrow for up to ten weeks why this newborn is out is concerning.

[@fungames24]

It's not sniffing air. Are you sniffing air when you laugh? That expression on lions is their way of expressing happiness when they come across something cute. It's roughly equivalent to a great bit smile in humans.

[@ItsJustKylie-]

It's not a smile or a smell of the air. When cats smell something, they open their mouths like this to process the scent. He's doing something called "scent sucking" through the roof of its mouth. It's a flehmen response. A LOT of animals do this.

[@skyphelps6655]

I can't believe how many people are like omg so sweet read the caption.......

[@DinnerForkTongue]

Not one of these soyboys reads the description.

[@kimberlyprieto2846]

Do you think they could get through the day if they thought she left it there on purpose so she could get away.

[@skyphelps6655]

That's dark

[@shakera1390]

He didn't say the lion ate it though. Just that he didn't hear the cries anymore. So you're making an assumption too just like those folk are 😂

[@_justinblizzle]

@@shakera1390don’t be foolish… I’ve seen enough lion docs to know that once he realized it was something he could eat, he ate it! Lions don’t give af if you’re a baby or not. I’ve seen a doc where a mother antelope was giving birth while the lion sat there and watched. Soon as they baby hit the grass the lion snatched it up and ran, umbilical cord still hanging from mom’s pu**y and all

[@Jackie-wn5hx]

I just hope the lions survived. Those honey badgers are born fighting.

[@IanJenn356094]

Everyone overestimates honey badgers. Yes, they're tough, but not invincible. Big cats have been known to kill honey badgers with relative ease.

[@fenderboy68]

@@IanJenn356094 HB kick a$$. For their size, nothing competes with them in their attitude.

[@doktorhyena]

@@fenderboy68 Just about any mustelid behaves the way they do, lol. Doesn't change the fact that they get clapped by any of the larger predators if they're making a genuine attempt.

[@Jackie-wn5hx]

@@IanJenn356094 I love lions, but unfortunately the reports are that they found a lion skull and half eaten tail. The mane and skin were turned into an exotic honey badger carpet and winter coat.

[@mypugisajedi9577]

@@Jackie-wn5hxyou need to STOP Making such hilarious comments teehee

[@sammypooh1311]

Wow that is a compassionate animal. He took the baby of the hot road and put it in the grass😊. Im simply in awe.

[@munter10]

Why are you in awe? Do you think animals are stupid? Lions are very intelligent and have respect and compassion for babies like this one.

[@thederpyspinosaurus6501]

@@munter10 Lions are stupid, uncaring killing machines, you're delusional if you think otherwise. I can send you videos of lions tearing their prey apart while they're still alive if you don't believe me. It was just confused about the baby, no compassion or respect involved. Wake up to reality, this isn't Disney.

[@peterguirguess853]

The lion ate the baby. This is nature not LION KING

[@thederpyspinosaurus6501]

@@munter10 Lions don't have compassion or respect, they don't care. They eat babies, sometimes even while they're still alive.

[@skuller595]

@@munter10 wow you're so dumb and naive it kinda worries me. I bet you also believe that animals have souls too

[@christina3693]

They can truly be magnificent and gentle when necessary and when they aren't hungry perhaps 😂 I love this though, that is pretty amazing to watch.❤ Thank you for sharing.

[@skyphelps6655]

RIP

[@stephanielipford9388]

I think it is more SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SANP SNAP!

[@meganbessenbacher7107]

Poor dear, you didn't read the description? I didn't at first either, but I needed more info and it turns out he likley offed it on the grass, it was possibly around after they had killed its mother. Honestly knowing cats they might have been batting the babies around for few hours waiting for the mom to digest, big cat kosher or something ❤🫂🦁

[@ZinedinelaHyene]

“After the lion was done with its investigation, it realized this was something it could eat! At that exact moment, I realized what I was looking at, it was a tiny honey badger! the lion then picked it up with its teeth and walked off into the grass. When the lion came back, the baby was no longer with it, and I didn't hear the squeals again.”

[@calrey]

They explain under the video description that the lion actually did end up eating it.

[@Sasa_mmm]

The way the lion was patting the baby badger with his paws. He was really trying to be gentle

[@asdfghjk-xh9jl]

He ate it afterwards. It’s in the description lol.

[@jimygerilius2377]

@@asdfghjk-xh9jl Where does it say " He ate it afterwards." ? I read "When the lion came back, the baby was no longer with it, and I didn't hear the squeals again."

[@kimmagee9645]

​@@jimygerilius2377will the person doing the video seems to think that the lion realised it was food

[@jeanneparisot237]

​@@jimygerilius2377 It is pretty obvious, sadly. The lion was cautious, because he try to see if the thing was dangerous or not. Cat do exactly the same when they investigate something new for them. They smell it and nudge it with a paw to see how the thing react. They try some bite, but very light. If it smell and taste like food, they took it and eat it somewhere else. At least, the baby honey badger was most likely killed in one bite, instead of suffering and agonizing for hours or days.

[@asdfghjk-xh9jl]

@@jimygerilius2377 What, you think it gave it a hug? It was either swallowed whole or it was eaten alive by the insects on the floor. A newborn animal that small has literally zero chance of survival.

[@Stormy0474]

What are you people talking about?! Read the description! The lion ate it! They were not kind and caring! At best they were curious, but then decided it’s an easy meal. 😢

[@kimberlyprieto2846]

Awwww, C'mon, don't make em cry. Let them believe that nature is kind and gentle and doesn't need to eat.

[@Grandmasterkiller]

No, it does not define that. What is said is that the squeals are no longer heard, what you're doing is conclusion seeking and projectile thinking

[@killer008r]

​@@Grandmasterkiller It absolutely does determine that. The naivety of your comment is baffling.

[@Stormy0474]

@@Grandmasterkiller No, unlike you I read the entire description and drew my CONCLUSION from the person who was there. Further, don’t be a hypocrite and presume things about what you think I am doing with my comment.

[@traceypalmere5908]

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT ANIMALS HAVE REAL FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS, THEY'RE CAPABLE OF LOVE, & COMPASSION, & TRUE EMPATHY, SO PRECIOUS 💓💓💕💓💕💓

[@ekoj3121]

The description says the lioness ate it

[@Monster-Beast-Fan]

They ate it

[@bone8352]

How is that precious he walked off to eat it in peace lol

[@jackx1930]

Keep living in a fantasy world.

[@traceypalmere5908]

I didn't see where she ate it ASSHOLES, OBVIOUSLY, GET A FLIPPING CLUE 😡

[@alanfoster6589]

I was shocked going into the video until it occurred to me what was going on. No talking. No vehicle idling. Kudos to the photog.

[@rdaalways2286]

But the lion could still smell the video taker..

[@madeinussr7551]

Sorry I still don't get it. Did he eat it or what?

[@killer008r]

​@@madeinussr7551 Yes he ate it.

[@waywardtaylor87]

@@rdaalways2286 the video taker? lol

[@waywardtaylor87]

@@killer008rhow do you know

[@Islam4ever2006]

He's hungry yet didn't want to eat it. 😢 Even lions have more compassion for other breeds, compared to cold hearted humans.

[@MasterofLightning]

Yes, because every human is going to straight up murder someone for food. It's insane that so many people think like this.

[@ZinedinelaHyene]

“After the lion was done with its investigation, it realized this was something it could eat! At that exact moment, I realized what I was looking at, it was a tiny honey badger! the lion then picked it up with its teeth and walked off into the grass. When the lion came back, the baby was no longer with it, and I didn't hear the squeals again.”

[@mohammadhussain3505]

That wouldn't touch the sides

[@calrey]

They explain under the video description that the lion actually did end up eating it.

[@QuackLikeADuck1]

Didn't say it definitely ate him. No blood on the lion or around the area. Maybe the lion let it go?

[@yrubla]

The lions are trying to console the newborn badger is amazing! It looks like the animals are growing a heart of compassion for each other especially in this instance,while we as humans are going in the opposite direction.

[@joydavis9264]

The description says the lion ate it.

[@ryanmccollough3841]

​@@joydavis9264LMAO

[@nekkoskrilla6750]

Exactly. You know cats play with their food before eating it, right?

[@kyletrube9061]

Maybe. And a beautiful sentiment. Cats do tend to play with their food for god awful amounts of time though. Keeping it alive just so it can run a short distance and be caught again. I'm not so certain that badger baby met a gentle end that day. 😂😂😂

[@lisacardwell2508]

Boy , if that ain’t the truth !!

[@mightymeatmonsta]

I've heard about maternal instincts, and this looks like another instance of that. Notice how the lion gingerly tries to pick up the baby honey badger 🦡 and then gently strokes it, first with the left paw, then the right. Then at the end, it oh-so-gingerly, picks it up and takes it off the road. Nature is amazing and sometimes mind-blowing!

[@LunaLei]

That's a male lion.

[@robertfarrow3218]

He took it off the road because he was more comfortable eating it in tall grass.

[@calrey]

They explain under the video description that the lion actually did end up eating it.

[@carnagerulez312]

Y'all PETAPOWER nerds sure are dumb. The male lion in the video was playing with his food, like most cats do. You just want to believe he was going to nurse it back to health and not eat the little bastard! 😂😂😂😂

[@slipstreamxr3763]

Badger cub probably has something wrong with it, honey badgers don't usually abandon their young.

[@johnrowlette7430]

That's what I was thinking.

[@Mark-gr3rg]

Were you abandoned?

[@Mark-gr3rg]

Were you abandoned?

[@Mark-gr3rg]

Were you abandoned?

[@Mark-gr3rg]

Were you abandoned?

[@lyndacarter4586]

Surprisingly gentle as it poked with its paws. 🐾

[@winterx2348]

He's like "wtf this badger doesn't taste like honey at all"

[@tpl608]

Thabks for not having stupid music playing

[@FieryRed_BE]

how gentle he is tho

[@BlueUncia]

Not near the end, I'm afraid. He seemed to bite down a little too hard.

[@fvnt0miix953]

These lions are just bigger wild cats. The way they try to figure out this newborn animal is no different than a domestic cat seeing something for the first time. The curiosity is the same. They all start by sniffing it and touch it gently with their paws and then carry it in their mouth.

[@agkingz3235]

The Lion is probably having a hard time holding the cub in its mouth because the cub was sprayed with the moms skunk like spray and it probably stinks really bad

[@farooqcato1479]

Very gentle and if I'm not mistaken. I think he moved it off the road to keep it safe.Animals are the The best people are trash.

[@farooqcato1479]

​​​@@BlueUnciaWhy would he have to bite down when all he had to do was chewy it and keep it moving DUH.

[@LionDominator]

That lion looks like an angel.

[@joeguevara7334]

Like the Venetian Lion.

[@xKamiiii]

it's just the beautiful creation of God, but y'all too blind to see it

[@ste9856]

Have you ever seen an angel?

[@Monster-Beast-Fan]

You've seen an angel?

[@Sumi_S]

@@xKamiiiiget help

[@alicegionzago2916]

I was just waiting for the last part because that's what my mind was saying it's going to pick it up and leave it in the grass land...animals always know how to treat babies because they are helpless they never disturb them unless they are super hungry we humans must show love and compassion to all animals ❤

[@atiqaly6567]

Youre the biggest idiot if you think that.😂😂😂

[@godfreyodenigbo95]

"the lion then picked it up with its teeth and walked off into the grass. When the lion came back, the baby was no longer with it, and I didn't hear the squeals again.”

[@somerandomperson6511]

Lmao lions love to eat babies, you have a childish worldview, the real world isn’t a Disney movie

[@husbandmanmediator9406]

He is gentle and he makes sure that he doesn't hurt it it's like he wants it to get pushing on it

[@joydavis9264]

The description says the lion ate it.

[@yourbestgolf365]

He's playing with his food. Stop pretending they are people

[@husbandmanmediator9406]

@@yourbestgolf365 yep well I'm not one of those people who treat animals like humans wild is wild

[@husbandmanmediator9406]

@@joydavis9264 O Okay

[@killer008r]

​@@husbandmanmediator9406 that's not what your original comment said. You called him gentle.... That lion definitely ate that badger.

[@dalibormlynek4197]

I witnessed this a long time ago in Kruger, a pride of lions took down a pregnant zebra and removed the foetus, from the zebra's womb. However during the whole time of feasting and they did return to the kill later in the night, they never touched the foetus. Just one of those unexplained mysteries of nature.

[@merylsullivan]

May be due to wild animal babies don't have a smell. I guess it'acts like when we have a cold, we can't smell or taste so our appetite isn't stimulated.

[@3AmandaR1017]

​@@merylsullivanwhy do you say that? Did you find it somewhere?

[@afterdarc]

Even animals know a fetus is a baby.

[@sk8legendz]

very likely and most likely from one of these videos which is how I learned it lol@@3AmandaR1017

[@Mr.HonestRe]

Bourgeois lions, they only eat aged meat.

[@MaryDecker-if5vz]

The lion is a male and his Instant as a motherhood is so amazing, look how he took the Honey Badger to the grass, to keep ilhim warm and safe. God is wonders shall never ends.

[@XxZeldaxXXxLinkxX]

So, actually the honey badger pup was eaten. God's wonders truly never end

[@user-ms1pg2ok4i]

Instinct. I love how nobody can spell on KZbin!

[@VP89898]

It's possibly dangerous that so many people are completely misunderstanding the nature of this animal. Please read the full description under the video.

[@mariarafferty5637]

What happened then, did the baby become a meal. I would appreciate a reply

[@calrey]

​@mariarafferty5637 yes, the lion ate it

[@GodOfVictory501]

Seriously, how can they be so childish and naive? Are they high?

[@oscarh9265]

All these comments talking “oh my god the lions have compassion for another creature! They didn’t even eat it guys!” 😂😂😂😂

[@HowlingSquaw-os7dh]

Even the lion can't understand the stupidity of the mother to leave her innocent baby in such a Hopeless situation!

[@mikeyingham7205]

The 🦁 was like, as if to say, 🦁"Where did ur mom go?" "I'll look over here to find her." ''Hey, ru Froaroargot roar Baby 🦡!" "I have her right here." "See..?" 🦁Ur 🦡 🚼 .

[@killer008r]

​@@mikeyingham7205 no... The lion was like "ooh ez snack"

[@ZinedinelaHyene]

“After the lion was done with its investigation, it realized this was something it could eat! At that exact moment, I realized what I was looking at, it was a tiny honey badger! the lion then picked it up with its teeth and walked off into the grass. When the lion came back, the baby was no longer with it, and I didn't hear the squeals again.”

[@calrey]

They explain under the video description that the lion actually did end up eating it.

[@skull3030]

Yup, that sounds like this generation

[@LucianaLu2267]

Pobre bebê 😢

[@prasanjeetnayak8253]

Bechara baby

[@katielovegrove3369]

So small but the lions seem to be gentle with it bless it ❤❤❤

[@ZinedinelaHyene]

“After the lion was done with its investigation, it realized this was something it could eat! At that exact moment, I realized what I was looking at, it was a tiny honey badger! the lion then picked it up with its teeth and walked off into the grass. When the lion came back, the baby was no longer with it, and I didn't hear the squeals again.”

[@calrey]

They explain under the video description that the lion actually did end up eating it.

[@Driven2Beers]

Wow, that's more camera clicks than what a supermodel hears on a photo shoot!

[@abbeylg3060]

Mom honey badger was like: Ok, baby. I am gonna leave you to nice neighbors where you will be safe from baby eater hyenas. Stay with them till I come back

[@moizatfs8975]

At first the lion tried whatever he could to carry it but failed and then he raised his head and voice as if to ask God "Oh dear God how can I help this little guy?" And God answered his sincere prayers and took it to the safe place... what a wonderful and a heart touching scene! Thanks for sharing

[@ani-ma-tion5326]

Unfortunately I doubt this happened , says the lion took him off into the grass and they never saw the baby again.

[@chechoreyes5438]

@@ani-ma-tion5326god said to him…”take it to a high grass so nobody can see you, so you digest it without any trouble.”

[@letthelovework966]

You must be an American

[@Ria.ray77257]

Animals can't pray to God, only Humans can. Only Humans can have a relationship with God, because we're the only creatures on this Earth who are created in God's image. We have the ability to reason, feel empathy, uphold justice, you don't see animals holding court proceedings. Animals are purely instinctual, they don't know right from wrong. Anyways, that lion was not trying to help the baby honey badger. For whatever reason, it seems that the baby was abandoned by it's mother so either way it would have died, whether it got hit by a car, roasted in the sun, eaten by those lions, or eaten by something else, unless some Humans intervened and tried to save it. Lions know this and the lion picked up the baby badger, took it to the grass and most likely ate it. The photographer said there was a bad smell after the lion came out the grass, and he didn't see the baby badger again.

[@kamazondo3878]

​@@Ria.ray77257he/she never said the lion prayed 'as if' tells a different narrative

[@rebeccareyna7550]

The lion seemed to be very concerned also sad. ❤ Nature is so beautiful 😍

[@godfreyodenigbo95]

"the lion then picked it up with its teeth and walked off into the grass. When the lion came back, the baby was no longer with it, and I didn't hear the squeals again.”

[@thederpyspinosaurus6501]

Lion killed it. Lions don't care, please wake up to reality.

[@somerandomperson6511]

Delusional

[@user-oz2uf3tb1r]

Something is wrong when Animals are more compassionate then mankind 😢

[@edpatleiter4379]

I know

[@nintencat]

Never fails to surprise me

[@killer008r]

​@@nintencatthe naivity of people never ceases to amaze me. The lion absolutely ate that baby. These people for some reason think nature is so much more compassionate than it is. It's baffling.

[@somerandomperson6511]

Something is wrong when idiots are incapable of reading video descriptions and think a lion cares about a baby badger

[@TVTIME-be8ze]

Something is more wrong when you realize animals are more heartless than humans. I mean, I don’t think the lion seemed that heartless he just was a bit opportunistic.

[@lizowilliam013]

that last lion totally unsure of what to make of it...wow!

[@MrRazorblade999]

Well, it didn't run

[@johnrowlette7430]

I think he watched the big male not be mean to it and just followed suit.

[@TheLadyred171]

That just showed me the love that anyone can give to another with knowing 💜

[@Ms.AnnastasiaMarie24]

Uh.. as he took him into the bushes and likely ate it!

[@Smirksdenmurks]

Lion definitely ate it that’s why the video cut.

[@killer008r]

The lion absolutely ate it...

[@oopyapa]

They going through that inner struggle morally. “Should I?…. Oh what the hell, I’m hungry enough”

[@Gr3ylok]

Although honeybadgers fight of lions, predators often let babies call for the adults so they can grab those..lazy hunt is all

[@brandonmizulski9087]

Honey Badger raised by lions would be an apex predator! I would be afraid of that Honey Badger

[@cherrylgibson6714]

😂 ❤❤❤❤❤

[@benjaminbanks487]

Sorry to say but he was eating it :/

[@AnastasiaBeaverhousn]

​@@benjaminbanks487when did he say the lion WASN'T eating it!!! 🙄 They merely made a comment damn!! 🤡

[@tinabecerra-hinsley8571]

You should fear all Honey Badgers. They just don't care...

[@crashpal]

​@tinabecerra-hinsley8571 they can eat snakes and withstand their venom. They are true badassess

[@Nmethyltransferase]

It's like when you go to the Japanese supermarket, and get a free sample. But it's something like sushi or daifuku shaped like a cute animal or anime character, and you're like, "This is too cute. I can't eat it!" 🥺😭

[@TakeTheRide]

That cat is trying to be so gentle with that baby. It's amazing how sensitive their feet are, just like a huge elephant has such sensitivity in their feet.

[@heinsaar]

The full video was deemed too gruesome as the baby badger ripped the lion's tongue out of him once in the grass, safely away from the camera.

[@michaelgreen166]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@omaewamoushindeiru4329]

❤❤❤😂😂😂

[@kathleenchaffin2591]

Plot twist!

[@janethall4432]

Bull crap

[@kcv5105]

I agree​@@janethall4432

[@urwaali8038]

Ohhh he is so kind ❤

[@WarMachine2495]

You can hear the crunch near the end of the video when he goes into the bushes 😢

[@marissawolff8491]

Crunch from what?

[@internetexplorer6097]

I see this all the time where predators sometimes won’t eat a newborn and almost start caring for it

[@lathafalls7675]

I saw on Animal 🌎 a Lioness lose her cubs and her pride so she lioness adopts baby antelope it’s so cute

[@littledudefromacrossthestr5755]

​@@lathafalls7675I remember

[@lc-bb6bd]

I’ve saw a terrible video of some hyenas ripping a baby from a pregnant gazelle on IG. It was horrible.

[@nekkoskrilla6750]

​@@lc-bb6bd, animals do that every day. It's nature.

[@m.6343]

Yeah they have more heart than humans

[@joeguevara7334]

One of those moments the tough Honey Badger yielded to the authority of the lions. 🦁

[@Girjon05]

I mean it's a baby, it can't really defend it's like an adult

[@ultraspinalki11]

​@@Girjon05 the comment was referring to the mother badger running away from lions instead of fighting them like we expected it to.

[@GenericDan]

​@@ultraspinalki11Honey badgers are aggressive, not stupid. A lion will maul a honey badger 100% of the time if it wants to.

[@jcpenny3606]

I didn't see no mother honey badger running away. She probably went hunting, no different than any other single mother.

[@GenericDan]

@@jcpenny3606 Honey badgers usually leave their babies in burrows. She's pulled a macropod move and left her baby to leave and reproduce another day.

[@narmen6942]

Even wild animals respect life.

[@roseannarios7312]

Unfortunately I'm guessing it either ate the baby or played with it killing it. Either way it died. I couldn't even finish watching this because, no matter what, it was heartbreaking.

[@slakcheetah4989]

The lion ate it. It’s in the description

[@jackx1930]

No, they don't 😊

[@shaniquesutherland2265]

​@@slakcheetah4989no the lion didn't eat it, it died, probably due to not being fed or cared for, and began to stink. Since there was no blood on the lion's mouth after it came back. Even if the thing was so small there would have been some on there. That lion just took it off the road and left it alone.

[@overheatedeskim054]

Even tho they killed of other prides cubs and take over and how they target wild dog cubs and hyena cubs........ok then soft brain

[@christopherkingbosso3385]

This is the way God operates. Taking care of each and every one of us when we least expect. Such a powerful animal like the like the lion. Had compassion on this innocent little baby badger. How much more the very God we don't see or know.

[@calrey]

They explain in the video description that the lion actually did end up eating it. It's several paragraphs down in the description.

[@1littlehedgeog701]

Awh :( the way the little baby curled up can you imagine how terrifying and painful that has to be. Poor baby badger I’m so sorry >_

[@ZoraVada-kn7tv]

People, he is playing with the baby badger. He's definitely going to eat em later. I'm sorry. I have two cats, and the cats love to play with a bug and carry it off before eating it. If the bug is not moving, the cat loses interest and slaps it a few times until it moves so that she can keep playing with it before she eats it.

[@alfhowell-jt8or]

Awww the king of the jungle wants to help it ❤😊so cool

[@ShiestySlatt_1]

Lions don't live in the jungle. They live in prairie.

[@ZinedinelaHyene]

“After the lion was done with its investigation, it realized this was something it could eat! At that exact moment, I realized what I was looking at, it was a tiny honey badger! the lion then picked it up with its teeth and walked off into the grass. When the lion came back, the baby was no longer with it, and I didn't hear the squeals again.”

[@calrey]

They explain in the video description that the lion actually did end up eating it.

[@SkylarTrahan]

Nature is incredibly beautiful and pretty harsh at times, but that’s the way of life for these animals

[@KamalMaalim]

Make long video please 😢😢 And give Us news 📰 how's the baby badgers now 😢💔

[@elizabethhalloran4626]

The baby honey badger ended up as lunch. Read the description.

[@MedusasFeelinSalty]

It's lion poop at this point

[@billbeam9553]

Goes to show you even wild lions have concern/passion or that mothering instinc for something that small a baby honeybadger and prevented it from being run over in the road. A lion/tiger can be a very dangerous animal 😬☠️ yet be so gentle when it needs to be. ❤❤

[@spz8342]

He ate it

[@calrey]

They explain under the video description that the lion actually did end up eating it.

[@thedrunksaiyan2227]

It would be funny if the Lions raised the honey badger as their own, and it grew up to be the most fearsome honey badger ever

[@peggould5943]

Y'all need to read the description. The honey badger mom may have possibly been killed. The photographer didn't see her body, but he smelled death, & it is unusual that her baby was out in the open & abandoned. & although this was not shown in the video, the one male lion ate the tiny baby badger.

[@AILIT1]

This is Honey Badger slander. If it's not on film it's hard to believe the mother just left her baby to the lions.

[@calebwilliams790]

She don't want to be lunch.

[@juliajohnson6022]

I was thinking the same thing. Bet she’s looking for her baby.🇺🇸❤️

[@GenericDan]

Honey badgers aren't mindlessly rabid and aggressive just for the fun of it. They act aggressive so that a predator deems them not worth fighting. In most videos showcasing them, they try to run away while facing the predator.

[@dalibormlynek4197]

@@GenericDan I wouldn't call it running away, more of a retreat and ready for a fight while doing so.

[@GenericDan]

@@dalibormlynek4197 Ah yes, the good old using different terminology to refer to the exact same action but on different animals.

[@artistaylor]

It’s so hard to find good child care today. That momma badger settled.

[@waywardtaylor87]

lol 😂

[@waywardtaylor87]

You are absolutely beautiful by the way

[@artistaylor]

@@waywardtaylor87 Who ARE you ?

[@vickigonya9432]

So gentle

[@smenon4199]

Simply heart wrenchingly amazing ❤😘 the lions are humane beings❤ they are teaching us humanity at a time when we have become animals of the worst kind.💘❤️👌🏻🏆thanks for sharing, truly lovely ❤❤

[@ixchelskyfeather2513]

Lion was like…”What am I supposed to do with this thing?? I can’t just leave it here…..I know…I will take to my Mom, she will know what to do with it.” 💕💕💕

[@killer008r]

Nope, the lion definitely had a snack.

[@rcasey420]

My cat buddy does that same facial expression when he smells something 😂😂😂

[@PinkEndymion804]

Rest in Peace baby Honey Badger…but tbh, your mom was possibly a badass and leader of black air force energy.

[@delthonygordon704]

Lion: "What is this thing? Oh wait, it's baby badger! Hey, are you alive? Hey... (poke, poke) O brother, where's your mother? She must have thought I was coming to get her, so she ran away."

[@Fede_99]

It went more like this Lion: food? Food.

[@camerondawnpeterson5100]

That's because everyone knows the honey badger don't give a shyt 😄

[@JConway416]

I feel like he didnt eat him, he just gently placed him back in the long grass.

[@williamdenton2254]

I wasn't going to watch the video because the title made it sound like it had a bad ending. Checked out the comment section and was relieved. Hope mom came back.

[@killer008r]

It didn't have a bad ending, Lion got a free meal. Everybody in this comment section just seems to put a humanistic compassion into the lion that doesn't exist. This is the wild, the lion ate it 100%.

[@kathjacquier6635]

That is incredible how that Lion was so concerned for that baby.

[@calrey]

It wasn't. Both wild and domestic cats play with their food before eating it. They explain in the video description that the lion actually did end up eating it.

[@Grandmasterkiller]

​@@calreyyou need to read again if you missed the limited details and not be drawing conclusions

[@chlyri]

​@@Grandmasterkillerif you think it wasn't eaten, then you live in a different reality.

[@GRosa250]

It’s almost like he was to embarrassed to eat it

[@jewelhaines8842]

But, not TOO embarrassed!! 😮😭

[@tracypleiss8271]

Truly amazing! At first I was wondering, why would somebody photograph this thing being eaten, but to my surprise, gentle curiosity prevailed. ❤

[@godfreyodenigbo95]

"the lion then picked it up with its teeth and walked off into the grass. When the lion came back, the baby was no longer with it, and I didn't hear the squeals again.”

[@kcv5105]

We had a Ratel interaction in our garden, on a farm with adjoining indigenous forests, in the Garden Route area. As a forester, I occasionally them, but just fleeting sightings. One night heard a ruckus, lots of rattling sounds, our modest size Pitbull involved. I thought a porcupine rattling its quills and a lousy task of pulling quills out of my dog. However it was a Ratel attached to the dog and vice versa. (Learnt why a Ratel has the name, rattling sound when annoyed!) So a roiling battle across the garden for maybe 20 minutes and we managed to disengage the two. (BTW, slept naked then and went out like that, and there was no specific attack to the vulnerable parts). Eventually the Ratel left, swearing and pissed off. I might add, the battle involved physically wrestling with the combatants and a Ratel gives off a stink, not far off from a skunk (Here usually an African weasel). Took a long time to scrub off. The next morning the Pitbull dies his enquiring kind of bark. We find a Ratel pup (?) left behind. She was probably transferring it to a new den and took a short-cut through our garden. Put the pup out for some nights, hoping the mother would hear the calls and come for it. To abbreviate the waffle, the pup was sent to a rehabilitation centre, was successfully reintroduced to the wild somewhere in the Kalahari. There was a documentary done about that, and it was quite pleasing to see. I hope this one in the video had a second chance. A bit sceptical, as a cat owner at times, they can be cute with Pygmy mice in my house, but in the end are just predators.

[@kathleenchaffin2591]

That's an amazing story, and well told! Thank you.

[@asahglobalspheresapostolic6044]

That is amazing to watch the lions seem to be in pain at sight of the little baby honeybadgar and ever so gentle.

[@donnaenglund-pd4vy]

Cartoons, stupid cowpoke movies & safari “fever” seriously misrepresent lions and that stereotype still creates damage. Most of the big cats are relatively kind in killing after the family drags it down from the rear. If you watch for it you will see that, as much as possible, big cats place theiir mouth over the poor thing’s nose and mouth and suffocates it. Wolves are known to do this as well. Then there is s pause until the breathing stops and the lions “take 5” and.catch their breath.

[@peterguirguess853]

U are out of your mind the lion ate it

[@mandybaines3973]

This is amazing , animals have feelings as big as this lion is but ever so gentle towards this little one.

[@stevebomer7670]

I am also very gentle with my chicken nugget

[@theRizzardofHoez]

Even wild predators have enough self control and awareness to not kill or hurt the innocent baby… meanwhile humans…. 🤦‍♂️

[@cherrylgibson6714]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@c.j.p.7607]

But I saw him grab it and walk off as the video ended...

[@yourbestgolf365]

He ate it. Stop living in fantasy land

[@smoke1215]

We just have the worst things that billions of people do each day highlighted. Check out the “Nature is metal” page for the animal version.

[@jackx1930]

You're in some sort of disney fantasy. Put your newborn in front of a lion see what happens.

[@01YAng13]

Poor little baby. 😢

[@Erinlass56]

Absolutely amazing!

[@whyareyoureadingmynickname8158]

It's OK, guys, honey badger doesn't care.

[@EH-lb3mf]

I get that reference. 😄😄😄

[@TomNook.]

Same thing as humans poking their chicken pieces on their plate

[@thewholetruth5473]

Really? I've never noticed chicken pieces being alive and moving on my plate. I guess we learn something new everyday. Thanks for the info.

[@TomNook.]

@@thewholetruth5473 There's always one cocky smartarse in the comments 😂

[@fillfinish7302]

Ok vegan warrior .no one eats live chicken.go play somewhere else . ​@@TomNook.

[@terrierobinson8312]

That must be a mama lion and she has compassion for the baby she's trying to wake it up by licking it and pushing it around with her paws that's so sweet

[@DavidJr.11]

That's a male, you see his Mane

[@chlyri]

it's a male lion that realized he found a snack.

[@killer008r]

It's absolutely a male, and it absolutely realized it found a snack. There's nothing sweet about it, he ate it.

[@somerandomperson6511]

It’s a male and it ate the baby according to the description. Your idea of a lion being friendly with a baby badger is childish

[@blacksheddie1972]

Plot twist,just after the lion swallowed, the baby honey badger bursts out the lions stomach like a xenomorph

[@user-oz4sh5ob4e]

Lions are deadly apex predators...but why do they look so innocent? They sometimes acts like normal house cats, which is even more confusing...and I can't help but find em cute

[@johnrowlette7430]

Obviously they just had a few 10 course meals.

[@xpdetion]

I saw the lion laughed twice.

[@melhordoquebom]

Eu também

[@justnischal]

Hard to believe but it's true those lions has great soul,even he's a animal and he take that baby gently in the grass section, 💘💘💘💘💘

[@JandiFX]

*Lion:* OoOoO~ a Snickers 😋

[@scottclaggett6851]

I was expecting John Quinones to jump out and tell the lions they are on the show "what would you do"

[@MauroMeneguzzi]

Eles são lindos leões

[@gteixeira]

E o honeybadger é feio?

[@SaidMaximov]

Well this explains everything! That brave honeybadger from all viral videos was raised by the lions?! Truly a bad mf!

[@d.m.vblunt3179]

Wow that was hard to watch😮

[@donnaevans5131]

Lioness looks like she was saying “What kind of careless mother leaves her baby in the road like this?” She also looks like she’s trying to comfort the baby.

[@brianchisholm8278]

That's a male lion

[@nunyabidness4946]

Yeah and I think male lions will even kill their own offspring just to bring the female back into heat again

[@somerandomperson6511]

It’s a young male lion and it ate the baby

[@davycheong7304]

Last lion looks like he is expecting Mr Beast to reward him for not eating the baby

[@kfhulme]

Absolutely fascinating sighting.

[@davidhunter9248]

🦡 Honey Badger: Help! 🦁 Lion: Who's got the Dijon mustard dressing?

[@janna59]

That honey badger momma doesn’t deserve the name! Most Honey Badgers are quit fearless, I hope the baby survived the lion and momma came back

[@lanakhamash1058]

No he ate it. Read the caption