Grant Rattray was onsite to film the incredible sighting, capturing the rare moment from the open-back game vehicle he was in.
Giraffe’s cries of distress ring through the bushveld
The giraffe’s cries of distress could be heard breaking through the bushveld. It moaned with agony as a cheetah duo pressed in on it. The determined pair had in mind to pull the staggering giraffe down towards the ground. Through immobilising it, they would be given the upperhand to secure the kill.
As predators, cheetahs usually focus on small to medium-sized antelope, such as impala, gazelles, and young wildebeest. Their bodies are lightweight, with long limbs, a flexible spine, and semi-retractable claws which provide traction during high-speed pursuits. However, they lack the muscular build and jaw strength seen in larger predators like lions or hyenas. For this reason, seeing them close in on a creature as large as a giraffe is a rare event.
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Giraffe staggers as cheetah pair closes in on it
The occupants in the vehicle watched from up close as the giraffe staggered under the weight of the cheetahs’ onslaught.
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Giraffe collapses towards the ground
It gradually bent over towards the ground, eventually collapsing towards it and disappearing from sight. Its groans continued to ring through the surrounding thicket. It was a heartrending moment.
The game viewers can be heard discussing the unlikely kill in the background, surprised by the cheetahs’ success in bringing down such a large prey.
Cheetahs succeed against the odds
For two cheetahs to bring down a significantly large animal, like a giraffe, the target would almost certainly have to be a very young calf or an already weakened individual. Giraffe calves are vulnerable during their first weeks of life, particularly when they are still learning to coordinate their movements and cannot yet outrun predators.
Even then, the situation is dangerous. A mother giraffe is highly protective and will aggressively defend her calf, often positioning herself between the threat and the young. She may charge or kick at approaching predators, making it extremely risky for smaller hunters like cheetahs to get close.
A rare event worth remembering
What made these cheetahs and their hunting success memorable was how they coordinated their efforts to bring the giraffe down. Cheetahs are not true pack hunters like, for example, wild dogs. Their coordination is limited compared to social predators, which reduces their ability to tackle large prey.
In contrast, lions, especially lionesses hunting in groups, are known to occasionally bring down subadult or even adult giraffes by working together to exhaust and overpower them. Cheetahs simply do not have the same physical or social adaptations.
These ones, however, defied the odds and fortunately Grant was there to capture the successful exploit on camera. While, two cheetahs taking down a giraffe does not reflect typical natural behaviour, nature is full of surprises. All the more reason to go out with expectancy when you leave the camp for a game drive!