“Don’t move; don’t breathe. And whatever you do, don’t run.” 

That’s the advice an African boy named Mumsi gets in the book Mumsi Meets a Lion, written by Kim Stegall and illustrated by Kimberly Batti.

Mumsi’s guidance is easy to remember. (Kind of like our “Stop, drop, and roll!” for fire safety, or “Dial a 9 and then a 1 and then a 1 for help to come.”) Like other kids in Africa, Mumsi was watching out for lions.

Do you know how to stay safe around wild animals? 

Komodo dragons. These guys are about as close as you’ll get to meeting a dinosaur. And believe us, you don’t want to meet them! They can run 13 miles per hour—twice as fast as ordinary people. To stay safe, zigzag. The dragons can go fast. But they can’t turn well while running. If you run away in a zigzag pattern, the lizard will likely give up the chase. (Good news: Komodos live only on some Indonesian islands.)

Lions. Mumsi got good counsel. If you meet a lion, look it in the eyes. Don’t move. Lions can easily eat people for lunch. But like housecats, they enjoy a chase. Don’t run and you won’t be chased! The same applies to encounters with mountain lions, tigers, and other big cats.

Bears. Talk calmly. This will show a bear you’re a human, not an animal snack. Slowly wave your arms. Don’t scream and don’t run. (That’s what prey would do!) Don’t climb a tree. (Bears climb too!) Make yourself look a big as possible—even if that means moving to higher ground. If you move, walk sideways. Bears don’t see sideways motion as a threat. And here’s advice you may have heard: Never get between a bear and her cubs.