By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

A meerkat puts his arm around his son's shoulder as they scan the horizon at the Makgadikgadi Salt Pan in Botswana


It was a heartwarming moment as cub Simba was shown his future kingdom by dad Mufasa in Disney's The Lion King - and here is a replay of the famous scene except this time the stars of the show are wild meerkats.

Just like the hit animated movie, an adult meerkat surveys the plains of Africa and seems to be saying 'One day all this will be yours', placing an arm around his son's shoulders as the pair scan the horizon together.

The copy-kat moment was caught on camera by caterer Thomas Retterath, 48, from, Nurburg, Germany.

The hobby photographer spotted the duo while on safari at Makgadikgadi Salt Pan in Botswana, where he watched a mob of seven meerkats patrolling their territory.


Dad keeps a watchful eye open for enemies and the possibility of something to eat
Thomas was inspired to take the trip after watching the popular Meerkat Manor TV series.


He said: 'It reminded me of drunk men trying to stabilise each other on their way home, but others in my group said it was juts like The Lion King.

'The mob only let alpha animals have pups. It improves the survival possibilities for all as there will be no overpopulation but enough food for all.


The adult meerkat seems to be telling his son 'One day all this will be yours' as they survey their kingdom


'It was great to watch them from just a few metres away and they were very funny. They stand on their back feet to look out for food and enemies.'

Meerkats are found in the Kalahari Desert across South Africa and Botswana and can live for up to 14 years.



Mufasa and his cub Simba in The Lion King and, right, a scene from the 2008 TV documentary Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins, which inspired photographer Thomas Retterath to visit Botswana


source: dailymail