A family’s trip to Woburn Safari Park turned into a surprising and tense moment when a lioness decided to take a bite out of their car.
Lydia Calvin, 26, from Bedford, UK, captured the moment on video when the hungry lioness clamped her jaws on the bumper of their vehicle.
The encounter, which left the family shaken, also left noticeable puncture holes in their Mercedes GLC.
The family had been enjoying a day at the safari park when things turned unexpectedly. At the start of the video, Lydia’s partner casually pointed out the lioness to their child, wondering aloud, “Is he going to eat the car?” Moments later, the large cat circled the car, locking eyes with the family before sinking her teeth into the bumper.
In disbelief, Lydia’s partner exclaims, “He just bit it! He’s a naughty lion.”
The lioness punctured multiple holes in the car, adding a unique twist to their day. Lydia later shared, “We didn’t expect much damage at first, but when people around us started waving and looking shocked, we realized the car had taken quite a hit. The whole car shook!”
The vehicle hasn’t been repaired yet, and the family is considering selling it, although Lydia joked that it would lead to an amusing conversation with the dealership.
The video sparked a wave of reactions online, with many finding humor in the situation. One viewer imagined how odd it would be to explain the damage to an insurance company, commenting, “I wish I worked for your insurer. I can only imagine the claim: ‘Yeah, so a lion bit my car.’” Another viewer shared a similar experience: “I’ve had bears try to open the door! That was scary. Glad I didn’t have this.”
This surprising yet humorous incident follows a tragic event earlier in the month, where a Spanish tourist was trampled to death by elephants at a safari park in South Africa.
The tourist, eager to capture close-up photos, left his vehicle despite warnings from others in his group.
He approached a herd with young calves, a protective adult female elephant, and two bulls charged at him. The man was unable to escape and was tragically killed by the herd.
A North-West Parks & Tourism Board spokesperson emphasized the importance of staying inside vehicles during safaris to avoid such dangerous situations. The incident is currently under police investigation.
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