Despite their ill-tempered reputation, Cape buffalo are a favoured prey of lions. Accordingly, the success of attempted predation is never guaranteed, even when it looks like the battle is lost.
Daniel Kriedemann submitted this dramatic footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while visiting South Africa’s Thornybush Private Game Reserve.
Buffalo down
Daniel’s video opens with a scene that suggests a predictable outcome. A pair of male lions has brought down a female Cape buffalo.
Despite a substantial weight disadvantage, the lions have managed to overpower their prey and are in the process of asphyxiating it. Unusually, both predators have their jaws clamped on the buffalo’s throat.
Slow but certain
However, the cow is still alive, her kicking legs suggesting there is still plenty of fight left in her. But as her air supply is cut off, it is only a matter of time before she loses consciousness.
Death by asphyxiation is an efficient but slow process, taking up to ten minutes to complete. Nevertheless, with two lions working together, it seems inevitable.
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Incoming darkness
Suddenly, Daniel zooms his camera out. He has noticed something that might change the outcome of what seemed certain.
As the view widens, we notice some dark shapes in the background.
The lions, however, do not. They are too preoccupied with trying to subdue their struggling prey.
Subsequently, the view comes into clear focus, revealing the identity of the shapes in the background. Approaching with raised noses, testing the air, the buffalo’s herd is coming to investigate the disturbance.
Mind your own business
As they shuffle through the dry grass, one of the lions hears them and looks up. He sees the approaching buffalo but chooses to ignore them.
At a distance, buffalo have poor eyesight. However, they are adept at detecting movement, sound, and scent.
Accordingly, with its curiosity piqued, the lead bull moves ever closer, closely followed by his comrades-in-arms. Meanwhile, desperate to finish the cow off, the lions ignore them.
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That’s me out
The next time the lion looks up, the buffalos are just a few feet away. Alarmed and respectful of their capacity for violence, he opts to abandon his prize.
Unencumbered by its weight, the cow is now able to lift herself from the ground. But the other lion still has her throat tightly clamped.
To the rescue
Her eyes suggest deep distress; the cow cannot escape the lion. However, help is on the way.
Emerging from behind her, one of the bulls spots its nemesis and does not hesitate to go on the offensive.
Lowering his massive horns, he deftly bashes the lion in the ribcage, lifting it from the ground.
In the process, the lion loses its stranglehold, and the cow is free. Stunned, the lion wastes no time in fleeing.
As the video ends, the herd surrounds their fortunate friend. On her neck, strands of lion saliva bear testimony to what was a very close call.