14 DAY TRIAL // Folks tend to become more loving during the holiday season, and sometimes this is because they are trying to get into their friends' and family's good graces and thus make sure that they will get some really cool Christmas presents.
I dare say the lioness pictured above is one of these nasty creatures that only show affection when they are after something. Hence the huge grin on its face while it's hugging its buddy.
Joking aside, the scene was caught on camera by 31-year-old Mark Smith from London in Botswana's Moremi game reserve, Daily Mail reports.
The photographer explains that lionesses often behave in this manner one towards the other. Apparently, such hugs help them strengthen the bonds between them.
Since lionesses help each other raise their cubs, having a fairly active social life and lots of buddies can only come in handy.
“It’s almost like the lion version of shaking hands and giving each other a hug,” Mark Smith explains. “The bond is important because they raise and protect their cubs as a collective as well as hunt that way,” he adds.