The Strongest Lion

Chapter 92 African Rock Python

Chapter Ninety-Two: African Rock Python

If the adult lions in this pride set off without having eaten their fill, they will have difficulty protecting their cubs when danger arises.

The adult lions from the neighboring pride set off to wander north before they had even had enough to eat.

This was a choice made out of necessity, as there was no water source left. The lions had to go to the waterhole to drink every few days. Without water, the lions could not live in this area.

Although the neighboring lion pride hadn't eaten their fill, they still had to set off. Even though there would be various dangers along the way, they had to face them.

Fortunately, the Jike pride hunted a sub-adult buffalo today, giving the entire pride a hearty meal.

On this day, all the lions of the Jike pride were resting. They were awaiting the male lion's command. If the male lion decided to set off, they would follow him on his journey northward.

Chu Ye was unaware that the Jike lion pride was going to wander north. He had thought that the pride could live here forever.

However, when Chu Ye arrived at the large puddle where he often went to drink water today, he found that the water in the puddle had completely disappeared.

Looking at the large puddle, Chu Ye had a premonition that his pride of lions would probably have to migrate to another place.

Because no matter what kind of animal it is, it cannot survive without water. All animals need to live in places with water.

"Tomorrow, our pride may have to set off to wander north." Chu Ye returned to his pride and, looking at the serious expression on the male lion Jike's face, felt an unprecedented pressure.

After all, making a living in the north would be much more dangerous than staying here. Because that's someone else's territory, and living on someone else's territory is naturally much more difficult than living on your own.

But no matter what, they still have to face it. Although life in the north will be more difficult, their pride, and other prides, still have to go north to make a living.

On this day, all the lions in the Jike pride were resting. The two lionesses had also eaten their fill, so naturally they didn't need to hunt.

The eight lion cubs also ate fresh beef today, and their bellies are all bulging. They can go without eating for several days.

Although lion cubs cannot go a month without food like adult lions, they can still go for many days without eating once they have had a full meal.

Chu Ye had eaten his fill today, and he knew that the lion cubs in their pride could go without food for several days.

And so, the next morning, as the sun was just rising in the east, the lion Jike led the entire pride northward.

Chu Ye followed behind Lisa, heading towards the northern mountainous area.

The weather was cool in the morning, perfect for the lions to go on their journey.

Jike and all the lions in the pride set off together towards the northern forests. They started off walking quickly, but as the temperature rose, they slowed down.

Chu Ye and the other seven lion cubs didn't feel anything special about this long journey. They just felt that they were going to a strange place, which was still quite novel.

Jike walked at the very front; as the leader of the pride, it was only natural for him to be at the front, as they were bound to encounter dangerous animals there.

However, in the first few kilometers of their journey, they did not encounter any dangerous animals, at most some venomous snakes.

Zeke and the lions of the pride knew how to deal with these venomous snakes. When they encountered one, Zeke would lead the pride around it. After all, lions are quite afraid of venomous snakes.

Chu Ye, however, was not afraid of any venomous snakes; it could completely ignore their presence. It was just that the other lions were unaware of this special ability.

When the pride of lions encounters a venomous snake, Zeke will lead the pride to quickly go around the snake to avoid direct contact with it.

Although Chu Ye wasn't afraid of venomous snakes, it still had to obey Jike. Since Jike was unwilling to fight the snakes, Chu Ye could only follow behind Jike and, together with the other lions in the pride, quickly circled around the snakes.

Although these venomous snakes are very dangerous, they do not pose a significant threat to the lion pride. As long as they do not provoke them, they are safe.

However, some dangers may still arise unexpectedly, and it may take some fighting to resolve them.

The Jike lion pride walked over ten kilometers on their first day without encountering any dangerous animals. They mainly encountered a few venomous snakes. Fortunately, none of the snakes attacked the pride, allowing them to safely circumnavigate them.

Due to the hot weather, the lion pride can only travel in the morning. During the day, they can only rest in some bushes.

Although it's cooler at night and they can travel, the Jike lion pride is now operating outside their own territory, in the territory of other animals. Therefore, they can only move during the day.

Many carnivores are nocturnal. If the Jike lion pride were also nocturnal, it would be easy for them to clash with other carnivores. That would be quite dangerous.

It's important to know that the Jike pride isn't very strong, consisting of only three adult lions. The rest are mostly cubs.

Because the Jike lion pride is not very strong, they can only travel during the day and not at night. This is because during the day, many predators are simply resting in safe places and do not pay attention to other animals in their territory.

The Jike lion pride only traveled about ten kilometers on the first day. They didn't encounter any dangerous animals, just a few venomous snakes.

But the next morning, when the Jike lion pride had only traveled one kilometer, they encountered a giant python.

This is a giant python that is over ten meters long; such pythons are truly rare. Not only is it enormous, but it is also extremely aggressive.

When this python encountered the Jike lion pride, it wanted to make the lion cubs its prey.

Originally, the lion Jike thought that as long as he didn't attack the python, the python wouldn't fight them either.

However, the reality was not as Jike had imagined; the python also appeared to be extremely hungry. Although Jike's pride did not want to fight the python, it actually took the initiative to provoke them.

Chu Ye glanced at the python, and information about it immediately came to mind.

This type of python is the famous African rock python.

The African rock python is a non-venomous python belonging to the genus Python in the family Pythonidae of the suborder Serpentes. It is the largest snake in Africa, with a relatively long body, reaching up to 7.5 meters in length. Its body varies greatly from region to region, and it has brown, olive, chestnut, or yellow patches.

African rock pythons are active in grasslands and tropical savannas, primarily feeding on sheep, antelopes, jackals, and honey badgers. They are mainly distributed in the Sahara region of southern Africa. African rock pythons are also commonly kept as pets, readily accepting regular feedings of rodents and rabbits. Two subspecies have been identified.

The African rock python is the largest snake in Africa, with a long body that can reach up to 7.5 meters in length. It varies greatly from region to region and has brown, olive, chestnut or yellow patches. It usually has wide, irregular stripes, a triangular head with a yellow edge and a dark brown center, and a unique triangular under-eye mark.

The longest recorded African rock python was discovered in Ivory Coast in 1932, measuring 9.72 meters in length. The African rock python's body is primarily brown with numerous irregular olive-colored markings. Its markings and colors are very similar to those of the Burmese python, making them easily confused. However, these two types of pythons are not closely related.

African rock pythons are opportunistic hunters, using their powerful squeezing force to kill prey. Young African rock pythons primarily prey on rodents, making them a valuable asset to farmers whose crops are being devoured by field mice.

However, adult African rock pythons often prey on large animals, such as sheep, antelopes, jackals, honey badgers, mongooses, hyenas, zebras, and even crocodiles, which poses a considerable threat to the livestock industry.

African rock pythons are active in grasslands and tropical savannas, but their activity areas are not far from water sources. Sometimes they will venture into the edge of forests, but rarely go deep inside.

African rock pythons are quite dependent on water sources. When the weather is too hot or too dry, they will forcibly hide in burrows dug by other animals and enter a state of summer hibernation.

However, African rock pythons are more ferocious and have a bad temper. If disturbed, they are prone to biting, which is quite different from the generally docile Burmese python (the two look quite similar).

Although the African rock python is not currently listed as an endangered species, it is still included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which restricts countries from various illegal import, export, and transportation of African rock pythons.

The most direct reason why African rock pythons are considered a potential threat is that their skins are often coveted by leather industry merchants, which could lead to their mass hunting by humans.

African rock pythons are also a common type of captive snake, willing to be fed rodents and rabbits at regular intervals.

However, compared to other pythons, the African rock python has a darker body color and a less docile temperament, so its value is generally lower; its huge size and gluttonous nature also make it more difficult to raise and not suitable for beginners.

Since adult African rock pythons can reach at least 4 meters in length, require a lot of energy and time to care for, and are extremely aggressive towards humans, they are also not suitable for experienced individuals to purchase and keep.

In short, African rock pythons are not suitable as pets due to their fierce and aggressive nature.

Adult African rock pythons often prey on large animals and are even more likely to attack humans. Cases of African rock pythons killing and eating children have occurred in South Africa and the United States.

When Chu Ye saw the African rock python, he already knew some information about this type of python.

However, information about this type of python states that the longest of them does not exceed ten meters. But the python in front of us is definitely over ten meters long.

Because of its enormous size, the python did not flee when it saw the Jike lion pride. Instead, it attempted to prey on the lion cubs.

This python is truly exceptional. Its size makes it an absolute behemoth among pythons.

Chu Ye saw that this python was at least ten meters long, and the thickest part of its body was about the size of a small bucket.

"How can this python be so big! Is it even an African rock python?" Chu Ye wondered, seeing how enormous the python was.

However, judging from the color and patterns of this python, it is indeed an African rock python.

"Forget it, as long as this python doesn't attack our pride, I won't bother with it." Chu Ye looked at the enormous python and sensed a hint of tension. After all, this was the first time he had ever seen a python this big.

Although Chu Ye had lived on this vast grassland for six or seven months and had seen some pythons, he had never seen a python this big before.

Seeing such a large python, Chu Ye felt a little scared. After all, a python that big could easily swallow a small lion whole.

In fact, it can easily swallow not only lion cubs, but also adult lions.

Chu Ye looked at the giant python before him, feeling a little scared. However, he thought that since there was a lion guarding them, they naturally didn't need to be afraid of this python.

Now, this python is blocking the path of the Jike lion pride. Its huge body lies horizontally in the grass, as if deliberately blocking the lions' way.

The lion Jik stared at the giant python for a while, feeling a little scared. After all, this was the first time he had ever seen such a large python.

Lisa and Elsa were the same; although they had lived on the grasslands for many years, they had never seen such a huge python.

The same was true for the lion Jike. Although it had lived on this vast grassland for several years, it had never encountered such a huge python.

Jike didn't want to clash with the giant python, so he led the pride of lions to try and go around it.