One man and his big cats: The lion and tiger cubs that herd sheep
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:33 PM on 7th January 2011
The cute cubs have taken to chasing after the sheep on their ranch and rounding them up in a style akin to One Man and his Dog.
The cheeky pair even crouch down in the long grass and pounce towards the herd to control them.
But comically, their owners say the cubs are just as scared of the sheep as the herd are of them - which doesn't bode well for their futures at the top of the food chain.
Wary: Lion cub Mohlatsi and tiger cub Tigger have taken to herding the flock of sheep at the Ranch Hotel, in the Limpopo Province in South Africa
Kings of the jungle: However, the two young big cats are as scared of the sheep as the sheep are of them
The white lion, a four-month-old named Mohlatsi, lives at the Ranch Hotel, in the Limpopo Province in South Africa.
His tiger companion, affectionately nicknamed Tigger, is spending six weeks at the location in transit from a breeding programme to another conservancy.
Mohlatsi, whose name means 'the lucky one', is already known for entertaining guests at the hotel by frolicking on the golf course. He even has his own Facebook page and Twitter feed dedicated to his antics.
But despite looking like a harmless pet, Mohlatsi is still a wild animal and spends most of his days safely tucked up in his large enclosure with the adult lions.
He is one of more than 30 lions housed in a conservancy as part of a breeding programme.
The cute cubs have taken to chasing after the sheep on their ranch and rounding them up in a style akin to One Man and his Dog
Mohlatsi's life is being documented by Marc Dryden-Schofield, a 31-year-old photographer from Johannesburg.
He said: 'He's a very cute little guy. He's very playful, which cubs are at that age, and is a real favourite around the ranch.
'He's been joined for six weeks by a little tiger cub, who is moving between a breeding programme and another conservancy.
'They're very inquisitive and like to chase the sheep, which are understandably very wary of them so they do make a good pair of sheepdogs!
The white lion, a four-month-old named Mohlatsi, lives at the Ranch Hotel, in the Limpopo Province in South Africa
Comically, their owners say the cubs are just as scared of the sheep as the herd are of them - which doesn't bode well for their futures at the top of the food chain
'Strangely enough though, the cubs are also a little wary of the sheep, and are quite afraid of them at the moment.
'At this age they can be very playful but still have very sharp claws, so they can get a little dangerous when too excited.
'Mohlatsi has about another five months of running around like this before it gets a little dangerous for the guests.
'He'll grow up to be a wild animal - nothing pet like at all. He will be used to people and interaction but will still be able to hunt if required.
'I can imagine at some stage, a few of those sheep will become dinner.'
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