Harry Mane captures the ball

When Harry the lion seized the football, he didn’t want to let it go and fans across England are hoping the national team’s striker with the same name will keep possession tomorrow.

The seven lions in Harry’s pride can be seen dribbling, running and taking hold of the ball in these incredible photographs and video.

The enrichment fun for the big cats is in a special year for Longleat as we mark 60 years since the opening of the first Drive-Through Safari outside of Africa and keepers are hoping England captain Harry Kane will bring the team for a visit.

But the Estate has other World Cup connections as Ian Turner, Senior Keeper, recalls.

“We were visited by the World Cup referees in 1966 and the group included Gottfried Dienst, who officiated when England beat West Germany 4:2 and football came home.

“The group visited just a couple of months after we opened the Drive-Through Safari and Gottfried Dienst discovered while he was here that he would officiate at the final.

“We are hoping the national team will join in our celebrations and win the World Cup and maybe even its captain Harry Kane will bring the team for a visit.”