Watch The Sighting Here:
Jill Matthew and her partner witnessed the dramatic turn of events, and she sent her record to Latest Sightings. She filmed the incident at Klopperfontein Dam, northeast of Punda Maria Camp, Kruger National Park.
Where’s Mom?
Jill said that when she arrived at Klopperfontein Dam, she found a pair of bull elephants. The elephants were accompanied by a small calf, unusually with no sign of its mother.
Then they noticed a pride of lions resting in the shade nearby. With little happening, they decided to return later.
Lying In Wait
When Jill returned late in the afternoon, the lions were still there. Only now they were waiting in ambush. For what, she didn’t know…
Suddenly, the elephant calf emerged from the bush. Alone! This was just what the lions had been waiting for, and they attacked.
In seconds, they overwhelmed the calf. As Jill’s video begins, we see its legs up in the air, its body covered by lions.
Just Curious?
Moments later, a lone buffalo bull approached the lions at a distance, seemingly curious about the commotion.
As it got closer, the buffalo stopped dead when it saw what was happening. The lions were still in the process of dispatching the calf.
On its own, there was little the buffalo could do. The young bull turned to rejoin its herd.
Reinforcements Arrive
No sooner had it turned away from the struggling elephant than help arrived. Like a gang of vigilantes, three more bulls arrived.
Seeing the reinforcements arrive, the first bull stood its ground. Soon, all four bulls stood abreast, facing the lions.
At this point, the lions began to show signs of unease. A single male buffalo can weigh nearly 2,000 pounds, and having a group standing their ground is enough to make predators think twice.
Get Our Best Sightings As they Come In
Rescue Mission Launched
Having assessed the situation, one of the bulls broke off to the right, obscured from view.
In the video, the lions scatter as the bull charges into the fray. Fearful of injury, the lions jumped away, releasing the stricken calf.
Freed of its tormentors, the little calf wasted no time getting back to its feet. With the lions on the run, the buffalo moved in to press home their advantage.
Flight To Safety? Or Not?
Instantly, the calf ran to the two bulls with whom Jill had earlier seen the calf. However, they showed no interest in protecting the traumatised calf.
For their part, the buffaloes continued to see off the lions.
Their aggressive nature made them impossible to domesticate, a trait that ultimately increased their chances of survival in the African bush.
Fate Uncertain
Seeing that the calf was getting no help from the two bulls, the lions regrouped and went after the calf again.
This time, Jill’s view was obscured by thick vegetation. She said, “The sighting ended with the large pride of 15-18 lions seizing the baby elephant. We presume that they finally succeeded in killing it…”
Strangely, according to Jill, only then did the adult elephants react.
She added, “The bull elephants released a feeling of deep, raw, and heartfelt emotions of loss as they noticed what was happening.”
For those who find themselves in similar situations, Jill had this advice: “At any sighting, read the signs that the behavior of the animal portrays, and anticipate what is going to happen and be ready to video the entire scene, emotional as it may be.”
Buffaloes and lions have been rivals in the African savannah. Here’s another sighting where they clash again:
Buffalo Down!
Gert Cloete witnessed the remarkable unity of a buffalo herd as it returned to rescue a wounded buffalo from a pride of lions.
Standoff With The Pride
The buffalo was already on the ground, groaning, struggling to get back up. The lions were in control, tackling it to the ground and working toward a clean kill.
But the lion’s dinner was interrupted by a small herd of strong and angry allies of the fallen buffalo. Inch by inch, the herd walked closer, imposing their size to intimidate the pride.
Swooping Charge
Two bulls cautiously approached, hoping for the lions to hand off their prey, giving their fellow buffalo a window to stand up and make a run. But the lions held their ground
Without warning, another bull made a charged, scaring the lions away. The injured buffalo had a brief chance to stand up, bought by the bravery of its herd.
Brave But In Vain
However, the buffalo was too badly injured to stand. This left the herd with a tough choice, abandoning it. The more time they spent there, the higher the possibility of letting the lions prepare for a counter-attack.
The herd was bold, their loyalty unquestionable, but nature doesn’t always reward courage. Sometimes, even the bravest acts end in demise.