Rangers, Brad Marais and Benjamain OT, sent their video to Latest Sightings. They filmed the action in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, South Africa.
Calf In Peril
As this action-packed video begins, a lion grips a recently captured buffalo calf in its powerful jaws. Facing them, its irate mother moves in to rescue it.
Lowering her horns, she charges, forcing the lioness to release the calf.
Pressing home her attack, she only narrowly misses the lion, which deftly avoids her scything horns.
Not Easily Deterred
However, the lioness is not easily deterred. Seconds after a narrow escape, it turns back, intent on getting the calf.
Standoff
Repeatedly, the lioness attempts to get close to the calf. In turn, its mother mounts a staunch defence, driving it off time and again.
Soon, a standoff ensues.
Red Mist
In the red mist of battle, the enraged buffalo cow seems at times to forget her calf, leaving it perilously vulnerable while she chases the lioness.
Spotting this, the lioness again rushes in to seize the defenceless calf.
With the mother absent, the lioness drags her prize away without hesitation.
Mom’s Back
Subsequently, on hearing her calf in distress, the cow charged back to its aid.
With 800 kilograms of angry mama bearing down on it, the lion has no choice but to let the calf go and run for its life.
Amazingly, the lioness remains undeterred and once again circles back for the calf.
Another surprising fact is that the cow once again leaves her calf undefended. Seconds later, the lioness once again has it by the throat.
This time, the cow is quicker to respond and again charges into battle. Once more, the lioness is forced to relinquish its prey.
Tipping Point
At this point, the scales of battle tilt decisively out of the buffalo’s favour when two more lions arrive on the scene.
Realising she is now in peril herself, she once again goes on the offensive.
When one of the lions fled, the cow chased after it, determined to wreak havoc.
However, on seeing the ‘fleeing’ buffalo, one of the other lions took this as a cue to chase after it.
Meanwhile, the third lion ran over to finish off the calf.
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A New Fight For Survival
With her calf apparently forgotten, the cow had a new battle on her hands. Now, she was fighting for her own life.
With their eyes now on an even bigger prize, the two lions were soon on the cow’s back, trying to bring her down.
Bizarre Twist
In another peculiar twist of fate, the cow’s herd suddenly appeared on the scene. With the scales of battle once again tipping in the buffalo’s favour, the lions decided they’d make do with the calf.
With that, the cow rejoined her herd, and they disappeared into the fading light of dusk.
In summing up their experience, Brad and Benjamin said, “While viewing wildlife in the African bush, one is filled with many different emotions. As the hunt played out, one is filled with adrenaline and excitement as one cannot determine the outcome.
“It all happens so fast, and when the outcome is successful for the lions, one feels sad for the buffalo but excited for the lions at the same time.”
For the mother buffalo, while the loss of her calf is tragic, she survives to live and breed another day.