The Mole doesn’t usual succumb to public relations spin but we couldn’t resist Visit Wiltshire attempt’s to involve the county in World Cup Fever.
The tourist organisation reports that the lions at Longleat Safari Park have been perfecting their football skills with special claw-proof balls as part of their “environment enrichment”.
Perhaps to the strains of Skinner and Baddiel’s Three Lions footie anthem, the pride of seven lionesses have been mimicking Rooney’s scoring prowess.
Said deputy head warden Ian Turner, said: "Our lionesses had a great time playing with these homemade footballs. Lions may be lazy by nature but like all cats, give them something to chase and they just can’t help themselves!
"I have to admit that we were all pretty impressed with their ball skills; there was some serious dribbling of the ball going on with both the left and right front paws in action.
"It was only by chance that we saw an area of the enclosure which looked much like a goal, so we added a ball on a chain. Once we secured the ball and chain in the makeshift goal – there was no stopping them – they wouldn’t leave it alone!”
by Dinah Hatch
