Photo by beverlyjoubert / Decades spent in the company of lions make for an assorted photographic archive. And so many of these images speak to the things we’ve come to know well about Africa’s iconic big cats over that time, like the irrepressible curiosity of young cubs. This inquisitive youngster spent the better part of two hours pestering its unfortunate reptilian "foe" while the rest of the pride slept off the heat of the day. This kind of playful investigative stalking has its purpose, of course. Feline instincts and survival skills must be shaped through exploring, learning, and practice before a cub is ready for the rough-and-tumble world of adult life. Luckily, tortoises are well equipped for fending off curious paws, and this one made a safe getaway. #lioncub #tortoise #bigcats #bigcatsofinstagram