Thursday, September 10, 2015

'Lifeguard' tiger cub rescues his brother

... by giving him a piggy back to drag him to safety from deep lake

  • Tiger cub jumped into a lake to cool off at a nature reserve in South Africa 
  • But he began to flounder in the water and desperate tried to swim to safety
  • Luckily his brother was on hand to rescue him and pull him to the shore  


This is the moment a tiger hitched a lift on his brother's back and was brought to safety after almost drowning in a lake.

The pair of big cats had been splashing around on the water's edge at John Varty's Tiger Conservation Project in Pillippolis in South Africa.

The strength of the sun meant one of the tigers decided to to plunge into the water to to cool off.

The tiger cubs begins to flounder in the water after jumping into a lake to cool off at a tiger reserve in South Africa 
The tiger cubs begins to flounder in the water after jumping into a lake to cool off at a tiger reserve in South Africa 

Sensing the cub was in trouble, his brother dives into the water to come to the aid of his stricken sibling 
Sensing the cub was in trouble, his brother dives into the water to come to the aid of his stricken sibling 

But it didn't take the creature long to realise he was floundering in the cold lake and desperately tried to get out.

However, his brother was on hand to dive into the water in a bid to save his sibling.
He then allowed him to jump on to his back before the pair swam off to safety.
The heart-warming moment was captured on camera by photographer Prelena Owen, who was visiting the reserve.

She said: 'The one cub jumped into the water and immediately regretted it as he started to sink under the water.
The two cats splashed around as one tried to save the other while they both tried to get to safety 
The two cats splashed around as one tried to save the other while they both tried to get to safety 

Eventually one cub offers his struggling brother his back to climb on to stop him from sinking into the water  
Eventually one cub offers his struggling brother his back to climb on to stop him from sinking into the water  

'Noticing that he was in trouble his brother jumped in and swam over to him.
'He climbed on the brother's back and the look of relief on his face was so cute.'
'It was like he was a lifeguard.'

Unlike domestic cats, most tigers enjoy bathing in water with the vast majority adept swimmers.

Safely aboard his brother's back, the two big cats begin their swim back on to dry land after their quick dip 
Safely aboard his brother's back, the two big cats begin their swim back on to dry land after their quick dip 


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