Andre Fourie submitted this video to Latest Sightings. He filmed it at Thornybush Game Reserve in South Africa.
Pedestrian traffic
As Andre’s video starts, we see some rather unusual pedestrian traffic passing by his chalet. A lone lioness is walking by and, by the looks of it, she is on the prowl.
In case you’re wondering, some lodges remain unfenced, allowing wildlife, including predators, to move freely across the premises. Also, we should mention that Andre filmed the incident while safely indoors.
Nothing to see here..?
After a short while, the lioness appears to decide that there is nothing worth investigating, and prepares to leave the area.
However, as it moves off, Andre suddenly pans his camera to the left and appears to make a ‘shooing’ noise. Then, as the camera pans back, the lioness comes back into view.
Only now she is inside the fenced area, and appears to be chasing an as-yet-unseen prey. We assume that Andre had been trying to ‘shoo’ it away when the lion returned.
Locked on
Subsequently, a young female nyala comes into view, and we see the lion lock on for the kill.
All but cornered, the antelope does its level best to escape. However, its path to the exit is blocked by the lion, so it makes a final ‘Hail Mary’ bid for freedom.
Leap of faith
In an act of sheer desperation, the fleeing nyala attempts to leap clear over the reed fence that stands between her and survival.
With the lion just a few feet behind her, survival depends on the success or failure of this leap of faith.
Impact!
Unfortunately, she doesn’t even get close to clearing the obstacle. Instead, she clatters into the fence as the lioness swerves to avoid the barbecue stand.
Probably stunned by the impact, the antelope falls to the ground. In the next instant, the lion arrives, grabs it in mid-air…
And pins it to the ground behind the barbecue…
In a matter of seconds, the antelope’s attempted flight to freedom has been brought to an end. Consequently, we see the lioness seemingly subduing her prey for a few moments behind the stand.
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Emerging victorious
Suffice it to say, at this point, the antelope’s chances of survival are practically zero. And so, it comes as no surprise when, seconds later, the lioness re-emerges with the nyala clamped in her jaws.
As Andre’s amazing video comes to an end, we see the lioness leaving with the limp body of the nyala. Presumably, she’s off to find a quiet, shady spot where she can enjoy her fortuitous meal away from prying eyes.
When world’s collide
For some, this incident highlights the complex relationship that exists between humans and wildlife. One could argue that were the structures not there, the antelope might have survived.
While that may be the case, it is also fair to say that without reserves and lodges like this, wildlife would no longer have a place to call home. This, given how historical ranges have been encroached upon by human settlement, thereby forcing wildlife into ever-smaller protected areas funded by tourism.
While that’s a debate for another day, we can still admire the power and dexterity of an apex predator in action.