A TV biologist has shared the terrifying moment he came face-to-face with two wild lions.
Dutch TV star, Professor Freek Vonk, 40, was told by his companion: “If you move you die.”
Professor Vonk, who recently hit the headlines for helping to discover the world’s biggest snake, called it a “stark reminder of the delicate balance between awe-inspiring proximity and potential danger.”
The clip shows the biologist sitting in the ‘tracker seat’ of a Jeep as two fearsome lions approach on the dirt track.
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He remains completely still as the predators slowly strut past.
He said the encounter took place during a filming expedition in the Maseke Balule Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger Park, in South Africa.
Professor Vonk told What’s the Jam: “My good friend Jesse, a ranger whose expertise is second to none, invited me to occupy the front seat of his vehicle, often dubbed the ‘tracker seat’.
“However, this seat isn’t for the faint of heart or the inexperienced, as it places one in the immediate proximity of potentially formidable encounters with the likes of elephants, leopards, and lions.
“As we traversed the rugged terrain in search of a herd of elephants we had been tracking, our senses were suddenly heightened by the sight of two majestic lions strolling confidently along the very road.
“With swift action, Jesse silenced the engine, leaving us poised in silent anticipation as the lions steadily but graciously approached.
“Being positioned at the forefront of the vehicle, I found myself in the direct path of these magnificent predators.”
He added: “Jesse whispered the legendary words ‘Freek, if you move you die’.
“It served as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between awe-inspiring proximity and potential danger.”
The wildlife presenter said he was aware that his cameraman was positioned at the rear of the vehicle, but he wanted to “immortalise this once-in-a-lifetime encounter from my perspective”.
Professor Vonk explained: “With the utmost caution, I took out my iPhone and filmed the lions from my perspective.
“Each and every subtle motion was executed with painstaking care, for any movement risked catastrophic consequence.
“Having filmed numerous encounters with lions throughout my career, I have grown accustomed to their imposing presence, yet the sheer magnitude of their size never fails to astound me.
“In moments such as these, characterised by an electrifying blend of exhilaration and trepidation, the adage ‘motion begets reaction’ rings true.”
He added: “Amidst the palpable tension, a whimsical thought flitted through my mind: the fervent hope that a sudden sneeze wouldn’t shatter the delicate equilibrium of this mesmerising moment.”
Professor Vonk recently helped to discover a new species of the world’s biggest snake.
Scientists named the new species the Northern Green Anaconda in a study published in the scientific journal Diversity on 16 February.
The Dutch TV star was one of 15 scientists involved in the study.
He told Jam Press: “We discovered that the largest snake species in the world, the green anaconda – as we all know it from movies and stories about giant snakes – is actually two different species.
“The green anacondas found in the north of their range in South America – including Venezuela, Suriname, and French Guiana – appear to belong to a completely different species.
“Although they look almost identical at first glance, the genetic difference between the two is 5.5% and that is huge.
“To put this in perspective, humans and chimpanzees are only genetically different from each other by about 2%.”
Professor Jesus Rivas, lead author of the study, explained that they first realised there was more than one species of green anaconda over 15 years ago.
Along with his wife Dr. Sarah Corey-Rivas, they started to analyse samples to look for genetic differences before releasing their findings this year.
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