[imagesource: Latest Sightings]

The honey badger has a reputation for being one of Africa’s most fearless animals.

They usually won’t back down, no matter how large the foe, and it’s a reputation that is well deserved.

In this case, however, we have to give props to the humble terrapin, which displayed remarkable courage during a rare exchange captured on video.

The footage was shot by 30-year-old safari guide, Reggi Barreto, near the Sand River in the MalaMala Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger Park.

Reggie told his story to Latest Sightings:

“We had heard about a few lions on a young zebra foal catch and my guests and I had decided to follow up in the afternoon to see if they were still visible.”

…“I knew the lions would look for water to drink and we positioned ourselves in the perfect spot with the sunlight in our favour, ready for the sighting. What came next we did not expect – I was pleasantly surprised when the terrapin came out of the wallow towards the male and then the lioness.”

The plucky freshwater turtle showed no fear, swimming right up to the lions as they quenched their thirst:

Reggie says that despite the terrapin’s presence, both lions drank their fill, and that the turtle may actually have been after some blood:

“It was an incredibly rare sighting for me to film – watching the terrapin approach the lions that had blood on their chins from the zebra. It seems as though the terrapin was actually more interested in getting some of that blood off the lions’ chins, as opposed to ‘chasing the lions away’.”

Whatever its motives, the exchange was good fun to watch.

[source:latestsightings]