Longleat’s lionesses are supporting their football-playing namesakes with their own version of a kickaround ahead of England’s final clash with Germany on Sunday.
Keepers at the Wiltshire safari park provided the world-famous pride with a selection of footballs to demonstrate their silky skills.
Despite starting off with half a dozen footballs the impromptu kickabout didn’t last long as the big cats’ razor-sharp claws and teeth made short work of the balls.
Longleat’s Ian Turner said: “Generally it is the females who do most of the hunting in the wild and they are also significantly faster and more flexible than the males.
“A male lion can run at up to 35 mph but females reach speeds of 45 mph and their agility makes them a much more effective predator,” he added.
Back in 1966, when Longleat became the first safari park to open outside of Africa, it was visited by several of the officials who refereed the World Cup Finals and saw England’s only victory at a major tournament to date.
“The mascot for that tournament, World Cup Willy, was also a lion so we’re all hoping it’s a good omen for England this time around,” added Ian.
