This is the cheeky moment a brave jackal sneaked up behind a dosing lion and bit the end of its tail in a game reserve in Botswana. (Video after cut)






Similar video form a different encounter

Feeling the sensitive pain in its tail, the lion quickly woke up and turned round to pounce on his enemy only to see the jackal making a very swift exit into the bush.
This startling scene was captured by photographer Mark Drysdale from Johannesburg, South Africa, who watched in amazement as the jackal approached the lion.  




Caught by surprise: Minding his own business, the lion was blissfully unaware that the jackal had taken a fancy to his bushy tail

Mr Drysdale, 54, was photographing animals in Piper Pan Central Kalahari Game Reserve when he spotted the lion and the jackal.
'I watched the jackal approach the Lion from a few different angles, as jackals always hang around the Lions to try and steal a few scraps from their dinner table,' he said.

'This Jackal sneaked up on the Lion from behind him and managed to close enough to have a munch on his tail because the lion was flicking his tail from side to side.
'I wondered what the jackal was going to do, but I certainly didn't expect him to bite the Lions tail. I thought the inter-action was very funny and typical of a bold naughty jackal,' he said.
'There was certainly no danger involved to me, for the Jackal it was a different situation,' Mr Drysdale joke 
Taking a look: The jackal appears to weigh up its option before deciding it would be worth taking a bite at the lion's tail

Tasty business: The crafty jackal sinks its teeth into the tender fluffy tail of the lion before making a break for it






Impressive: This startling scene was captured by photographer Mark Drysdale from Johannesburg, South Africa, who watched in amazement as the jackal approached the lion


 


Run, Run, Run! Realizing the danger of waking a sleeping lion, the jackal quickly make a swift getaway after its cheeky bite




 
Rude awakening: The lion flicks its tail in pain and disgust as it turns round to find out who the troublemaker is