Danielle Sheedy submitted this short video clip to Latest Sightings. No information is available detailing where the event took place, although it looks like it could be South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
(Sc)Avengers Assemble
As Danielle’s video begins, we see a vulture descending to the ground. It joins dozens of others as they await their turn on the partial remains of a dead antelope.
For now, the predator that made the kill keeps them at bay.
Feeling the pressure
As the camera pans to the right, we see that a female cheetah is lying in the shade of a small tree. It still has possession of its prize but is feeling pressurised by the growing flock of white-backed vultures.
Predominantly solitary animals, cheetahs can be quite skittish. Having sacrificed bulk strength for speed, they are fairly timid animals that prefer to avoid conflict.
Consequently, when the vultures move towards the spotted cat, it decides that it is time to relinquish its prize. However, as it does, something peculiar happens.
Somehow, the cheetah became entangled in the impala carcass, with its remains draped awkwardly over its back. As a result, when the cheetah got up, the carcass magically got up with her.
What the heck!
Already nervous and easily frightened, the confused cheetah’s fight-or-flight response kicked in. Choosing flight, the cheetah sprang to its feet and took off at a rate of knots.
Consequently, as she dragged the carcass with her, the panicked predator’s anxiety spiked, convinced some unseen enemy was attacking.
Get off me!
As she sprinted, she dipped her hips in mid-turn, trying to dislodge the carcass from her back. The tactic worked, and the impala remains dropped to the floor in her wake.
Even so, the startled cat ran on, determined to get as far away from the perceived threat as possible. All the while, the vultures looked on. Their expressions: one of judgmental bemusement.
What was that?
Only when satisfied that she was both free and clear of the imminent threat did the spooked female come to a halt. Then, gathering her wits, she turned to investigate the cause of her fright.
To her chagrin, nothing was there. Not only was no one chasing her, but she had also abandoned the meagre remains of her hard-earned kill.
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Don’t mind if we do
For the vultures, this was the moment they had been waiting for. Initially startled by the cats’ dramatic departure, they soon settled down.
As more and more of Nature’s cleanup crew came down from the heavens, the cheetah had no choice but to concede the loss.
The compromise of being compromised
With a frame designed for high-speed pursuit, cheetahs are not as powerful as most of the other apex predators. Additionally, since they frequently lead a solitary existence, they need to be ultra-cautious when danger (or the threat thereof) appears.
With a limited ability to physically confront challengers and a high degree of self-reliance, any injury could be disastrous. Consequently, while their timid nature is helpful in avoiding conflict, it does see them lose their kills more often than other predators.