Watching Disney's The Lion King for the first time is an experience that few people can forget, often leaving them emotionally scarred, clutching for the tissues to dry their never-ending stream of tears.
Two youngsters were recently treated to their very own screening of the beloved film, but they weren't your average cartoon movie lovers. The movie was put on for two lion cubs in a conservation area of Tanzania, and they certainly seemed intrigued by the colors and music on display.
Who could forget the symbolic moment when Simba is lifted to the whole of Pride Rock as a cub? It's a moment that's synonymous with The Lion King franchise and the cubs also appeared to enjoy it, as they tilted their heads in fascination. In one adorable moment, the cubs even glanced at each other before returning their gaze to the 1994 movie.
The viral video, which has been viewed more than 3 million times on Instagram, was posted by travel enthusiast Tiffany Venticinque (@tipsy_with_tiffany). The content creator from Long Island, New York, often travels to unique locations to see the incredible wildlife first-hand.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), lions are considered a vulnerable species as there are around 23,000 left in the wild. About 80 percent of African lions are now thought to live in sub-Saharan Africa, rather than spread across the continent. The WWF highlights the sad fact that lions have disappeared from 12 sub-Saharan countries over recent decades.
The species faces many risks, including habitat loss, the illegal wildlife trade, and conflict with humans. These factors have contributed to a 40 percent loss in their population over the last three generations.
Their numbers might be decreasing, but the sight of a lion is still highly sought after by many tourists who will travel far and wide to see the majestic big cats in their natural habitat.
When Venticinque shared the clip of the cubs watching the Disney movie, which is considered the most popular animated movie by YouGov, many social media users were amazed by their sweet reactions.
Venticinque wrote on Instagram that this was one of her "favorite parts when they were watching their favorite movie," and it marks "one of the happiest moments" in her life.
The clip has received more than 51,000 likes and hundreds of comments from amazed social media users.
One person commented: "Aww this is so wholesome."
Another person wrote: "This is hilarious, their attention to it is incredible."
Do you have funny and adorable animal videos or pictures you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
Update 06/20/23, 9:21 a.m. ET: This article was updated to add the video with credit to Tiffany Venticinque.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Alyce Collins is a Newsweek Life and Trends reporter based in Birmingham, U.K. with a focus on trending topics that ... Read more
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