Warthog picture rekindles memories of Pumba from hit movie 'The Lion King'

A photograph of a wild Warthog with multiple birds resting on its back has made many netizens nostalgic. The photograph has reminded netizens of the beloved fictional character Pumba from The Lion King.

The real-life Pumba

The photo was taken by wildlife photographer Gary Jones at Zimanga Private Game Reserve in South Africa. In the photo, the warthog seems to be enjoying the afternoon sun along with a flock of red-billed oxpeckers sitting on its back and clinging to other parts of its body. The image is very reminiscent of a scene from the 1994 animated classic that gave fans the first look at the iconic duo of an over the top warthog and a witty meerkat, known as Timon and Pumba.

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Instantly Viral

The image shared by Jones instantly went viral once it was posted on Facebook. Jones who hales from North Wales in Britain stated that he ed the photo primarily because of the colourful birds sitting on top of the warthog and that it made for a picturesque sight. He himself was not aware of the similarity between his picture and that of Pumba until people on the net pointed it out to him.

Jones wrote on Facebook that the comparison did not register at the time and having seen The Lion King a few years ago he was slow on the uptake.

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Zimzanga Game Reserve

The Zimanga Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal where Jones took the photo is one of the first reserves in Africa designed for avid safari enthusiasts and also serving the dual purpose of satisfying the need for modern wildlife photographers. Spread over nearly 70 square kilometres of pristine Zululand bushveld, fever tree forests and rolling hills, Zimanga is bisected by the Mkuze River and home to a splendid variety of animals and birds. Zimanga Game reserve aims to become Africa's premier wildlife photographic destination and the owners are committed to the further development of the destination.

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