Buffalo Stuck With Lions Calls for Backup

A dramatic standoff unfolds as a massive herd of buffalo surrounds and challenges a hungry pride of eight lions, bravely rescuing their trapped elderly member.

A lion pride, featuring several cubs, rests in a riverbed and eyes a vulnerable buffalo calf among a buffalo herd. As the lions close in, the buffalo swiftly move their calves to the back. The massive males, weighing up to 900 kilograms, form a formidable defensive wall at the front. They square off with the lions while the herd retreats behind them.

Having retreated from the grassy savannah to high ground, they seemed out of danger but one older male buffalo could not scale the steep bank to safety.

The buffalo, known for its formidable horns and massive weight, is one of South Africa’s most dangerous animals. Despite its strength, the lions recognized an opportunity. With one hind leg dangling, the buffalo became vulnerable, prompting the lionesses to consider a larger meal than just a calf.

“It was a sitting duck, unable to defend itself,” Pieter, the safari guide, remarked, describing the scene. “Knowing this, the lionesses made their move, under the watchful eyes of the pride’s cubs.”

One lioness leaps onto the back of the stranded old buffalo, clutching its hind legs with sharp claws. The buffalo finds itself trapped between a rock and a hard place, its calls for help growing more desperate.

Thankfully, the male buffaloes did not give up on their herd member and charged the lionesses, again and again, until they quit.

Buffaloes are renowned for their strong herding instinct and protective nature. They often form a defensive circle around vulnerable members, like calves or injured individuals, when faced with predators. This protective circle, usually led by larger males, showcases their cooperative behavior against potential threats within the herd.

The buffalo is a prized trophy for big game hunters. Yet, apart from humans, its only predators are lions and crocodiles. Standing up to 5ft 6 inches in height, it commands respect in the animal kingdom. However, in this encounter, the Kings of the Jungle met their match against the Buffalo Soldiers…