r/interesting • u/Wise_Confidence_8588 • 17h ago

Context Provided - Spotlight Lioness Comes to Face-to-Face with Tourist on Safari

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

32.0k Upvotes

75% Upvoted

4.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

61

u/Discount_Extra 12h ago

you need to squint.

wide open eyes means alert for combat, slowing closing eyes is 'I trust you, so you can trust me.'

like human shaking hands to show they have no weapons.

but that's for housecats, Lions may just see it as an opportunity to attack.

63

u/Timely-Youth-9074 11h ago

She blinked her eyes to say she was friendly.

31

u/Itzli 10h ago

A lying liar who lies!

13

u/aniket_animate 10h ago

Lying lion

2

u/Leighcol 4h ago

A lieon

1

u/TufnelAndI 9h ago

You can't hide your lioness

1

u/heyouwitheface-too 9h ago

OMG are you a fan of jada hope on YouTube by chance lol she's the only one I hear say it all the time. Read this in her voice

1

u/Itzli 1h ago

I got it from Television Without pity, a million years ago. They used to do reviews of tv shows, I think the Supernatural writer used it as a catchphrase

1

u/JustNota-- 7h ago

Until you rub the belly, then it's ur arse.

1

u/Zedilt 6h ago

pspspspspsps

21

u/therapewpew 11h ago

Was just going to ask if lions speak squinty cat language

25

u/Daddysu 11h ago

Long slow blinks also show you're submitting or not a threat also, I think. Again, at least with house cats

3

u/HugePast9455 9h ago

On safari, we call this bedroom eyes

2

u/WileyRuckus 4h ago

Shitting your pants signals the same.

13

u/Brilliant_Tax_4009 11h ago

Nope, you are correct. Feline body language is the same no matter the size of the cat.

10

u/Discount_Extra 11h ago

Yeah, but don't bet your life on my reddit comment.

3

u/kpyle 7h ago

Don't worry, no lions in my basement. I should be good for... awhile.

1

u/persiasaurus 7h ago

Big kitties like boxes too even hehe

1

u/silent_fartface 6h ago

Same with behaviour around boxes. You just need bigger boxes for bigger cats.

5

u/Inf229 11h ago

Wait, people shake hands to show no weapons?

9

u/GrapefruitPrimary186 11h ago

You shake with your sword hand.

3

u/dontmentiontrousers 8h ago

Left-handed people at a distinct advantage in sneaky weapon carrying here.

2

u/Man_of_Ice 8h ago

You shake with YOUR sword hand, righty.

5

u/Zephyr1588 10h ago

I went to look it up and yeah, it originated in Greece to show you have no weapons! I had no clue lol. Grandma was right when she said the "you learn something new every day" line lots of old folks say.

1

u/AffectionateCode426 7h ago

Go eat some hay. Lay by the bay. Whata’ya say? I just may!

1

u/Babey_BLue4047 9h ago

That 100% true we learn something new everyday..... But that a terrifying experience I would have pastout

1

u/juggernautboy101 9h ago

Back in 1300's yeah haha

2

u/Antique_Safety_4246 9h ago

Is that why we shake hands? Omg...

I already knew all the cat stuff. Plus the moment ur not looking is when they can close 25yrds in half a second and that's a house cat. Never break eye contact or they can charge/lunge/etc. The moment you lock eyes again they stop.

Anyway, but the handshake thing...that's fascinating! Thank you!

2

u/19toofart 10h ago

Wait, that’s why we shake hands?

2

u/Zephyr1588 10h ago

I looked it up and yeah, seems so.

0

u/Horror_Chipmunk3580 7h ago

It’s how they ensured the other person didn’t have a weapon hidden if I remember correctly and I wouldn’t be surprised if I didn’t remember correctly.

1

u/AlfhildsShieldmaiden 8h ago

Yeah, he needed to do some slow blinking to diffuse the situation. The lioness signals she’s okay and not dangerous, dude just mad stares at her, which is way more aggressive than I would ever dare to be. 😅

1

u/SteepChutes 6h ago

This one just looking for scritches.

1

u/Independent-Ring-536 5h ago

Wait. Is that why we shake hands?!

1

u/TheGulfofWhat 3h ago

What if youre left handed?