A couple of reasons, or maybe several. The animals in places where safaris are common are habituated to the presence of the vehicles. A lion can’t usually tell where the vehicle ends and the people begin. To a predator, a vehicle looks like a very large animal that smells like diesel fuel.
It’s all about predator-prey dynamics: A lion wouldn’t think twice about going after an individual human, but a motor vehicle is just so much larger than any animal a lion would usually attack as prey (or perceive as a threat it could handle). Question is, is African Lion Safari safe?
Lions normally don’t attack people, unless they get too close. The drivers in the safari jeeps are very experienced and know which distance that’s safe. In popular safari areas, the lions also get used to see the jeeps. It is wrong to say that Lions will not attack on safari vehicle, They do sometimes when feeling hungry.
This of course begs the question “Why don’t Lions attack cars?”
It’s all about predator-prey dynamics: A lion wouldn’t think twice about going after an individual human, but a motor vehicle is just so much larger than any animal a lion would usually attack as prey (or perceive as a threat it could handle).
How are Lions habituated with the frequent movement of vehicles?
From the time westerns have placed foot in African safaris, they have had the vehicles and used to hunt down animals. However many even came to pick some animals for the zoo. Slowly hunting stopped. Thereafter vehicles were used for tourist purposes. So lions are habituated with the frequent movement of these vehicles .
What happens if a pack of lions attack a wildlife reserve?
Nevertheless, if a pack of lions insist on being aggressive to humans, which makes the reserve lose money, they resell or even shoot down the rebels. , and sad, no? No publicity on this, bad for business. This is so true that in wild reserves the thing changes completely: no more open safari vehicles and guards always carrying rifles.