This Ghost White Lion Watches Over An Entire Buffalo Herd From A Tree

Written by Katie Melynn Wood
Updated: October 18, 2023
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Lions are the kings and queens of the savannah. This video shows an adult male lion watching over all of his kingdom, including a herd of buffalo, from his mighty throne.

Click The Link Below To Watch The Complete Video Footage!

The lion is known as Casper. He is easy to recognize due to his white coloring. Compared to the other lions in the video and others that live in Kruger National Park, a wildlife preserve in South Africa, his fur and mane are very light. A female lion stays close to Casper and other males from his group are nearby as they watch the buffalo approach.

The buffalo herd is there to drink water from Nsemani Dam. This lake is a popular place to see wildlife when visiting the park, although you should always do so with a guide. Lions and buffalo aren’t the only species that like to spend time there. Hippos and elephants also stop to get a drink or just relax. All of these animals can be dangerous to humans if they feel threatened. It’s important to note the Kruger National Park is a great place to view these majestic animals in their natural environment but safety precautions are important.

White lions have a rare color mutation

White lions have a rare color mutation that results in reduced pigmentation.

©Edwin Butter/Shutterstock.com

The herd goes close to the lake and bends down one by one to get a drink. Nearby, Casper and his friends perk up at the sight. They look over to the buffalo and slink off into the tall grass. Are they planning to have a little snack of their own?

A Peaceful Ending

Casper and his lady friend go back to their tree and act uninterested in the buffalo. The herd watches them closely and one even goes up to Casper as if to say, “Hey pal, we’re drinking here.” Animals such as buffalo that live in herds get strength from their large numbers. This helps protect them from potential predators, like lions. Buffalo also have horns that they can use in defense. Casper knows that even though he is an apex predator in his environment, that doesn’t mean he can take on an entire buffalo herd.

Male white lion

Casper lives in South Africa at the Kruger National Park wildlife.

©Vladimir Wrangel/Shutterstock.com

The video ends with the herd and Casper parting ways. They keep a close eye on each other throughout the encounter. At one point, Casper even makes a move toward one of the closer buffalo. He’s clearly not interested in hunting, however, and stays in his tree to let them get a drink and move on. Casper even lays down and puts his head on his paws, happy on his throne.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Vladimir Wrangel/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Katie is a freelance writer and teaching artist specializing in home, lifestyle, and family topics. Her work has appeared in At Ease Magazine, PEOPLE, and The Spruce, among others. When she is not writing, Katie teaches creative writing with the Apex Arts Magnet Program in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. You can follow Katie @katiemelynnwriter.

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Sources
  1. Safaria, Available here: https://www.safaria.co.za/casper-the-white-lion-of-kruger-national-park/
  2. Siyabona Africa, Available here: https://www.krugerpark.co.za/