大象传媒

Wildlife vet Joel Alves has shared video online of him sitting in the back of a light aircraft with a pair of tranquillised lions between his legs - while airborne at 10,000 feet over South Africa鈥檚 Kruger National Park.

Joel, who works with WildScapes Veterinary and Conservation Services, explains to Newsday how transporting the lions via air is often the most efficient way to get them to a location where they can receive the treatment they need. Joel regularly shares videos like this with his 160,000 social media followers, offering them a window into the world of African wildlife conservation.

"We move these lions around to maintain a genetic diversity across the landscape. Unfortunately the road networks or the trips themselves can be extremely long and challenging, so sometimes it's a lot quicker to pop them in the aircraft, keep them sleeping, and you can cover a great distance in a much shorter space of time," says Joel.

He adds: "We trust the drugs, the lions should not be waking up... there might be a bit of movement and your heart will be in your mouth... but you can certainly control the situation."

(Image: Joel Alves with a sedated lion in a light aircraft. Credit: Kate Church)

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