Miracles happen all the time in the bushveld but every now and then someone is there to film them. This is exactly what happened in the MalaMala Game Reserve recently when an impala ram successfully escaped a large pride of lions.
Lone impala walks straight into pride’s ‘trap’
The buck had unknowingly walked straight into the pride’s trap, and it appeared it was too late for the poor creature as the lionesses emerged from the covering of the nearby thicket.
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Lionesses come out in numbers after buck
They came out in numbers, focused on the lone buck, which was without the covering of its herd.
The buck turned with amazing reaction time and started to sprint away from the lions.
A lion pride relies on coordination, stealth, and short bursts of power when hunting. Lions are not built for long-distance chases; instead, they depend on getting as close as possible to their prey before launching an attack.
This pride consisted mostly of lionesses. Typically, lionesses do most of the hunting, working together to flank or encircle a herd. Some members of the pride may act as ‘drivers’, pushing prey in a certain direction, while others position themselves in ambush. This teamwork increases their chances of success, especially against agile prey like impala.
Lions can reach speeds of about 60 km/h, but only for very short distances, usually less than 100m.
It showed perfect agility with wide leaps, and focused and determined movements, as it evaded the powerful onslaught of the lion pride.
An impala’s survival depends heavily on speed, agility, and unpredictability. The impala is capable of reaching speeds of around 80 to 90 km/h, but what truly sets it apart is its ability to change direction rapidly while maintaining momentum.
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When fleeing danger, an impala often performs high, arcing leaps known as ‘stotting’, sometimes clearing distances of up to 10m in a single bound and reaching heights of 3m.
These jumps are not just for escape but also serve to confuse predators, making it difficult to predict the impala’s next movement. Its lightweight build and strong hind legs allow for explosive acceleration, which is critical in the first moments of a chase.
Impala ram successfully unruns lions
The impala ram successfully escaped the lions’ ambush. While they were hot on its tail, they failed to catch up to it. It ran off into the distance leaving the pursuing lions bewildered.
They slowed down their pace and eventually came to a standstill, watching the impala in the distance… it appeared as shocked as the spectators that the lone buck had gotten away.
This impala definitely deserved an award for being a ‘MacGyver’ of bucks in that it successfully got out of a seemingly unconquerable tight spot. It had achieved the impossible through outrunning a pride of muscular, hungry lions and while it may be difficult to pinpoint exactly which impala it was – there are so many in the reserve – its heroic efforts won’t easily be forgotten.
It’s these moments in the bushveld which somehow instill faith in spectators, reminding one that life isn’t always as predictable as it seems and that surprises do happen!
Having stared off into the distance for a few moments, the lions eventually licked their wounds, picked up their bruised egos and resumed pride life. More than likely their next hunt was successful, however, spectators will never forget the one that got away.