Daniel Kravat caught this big cat encounter in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, as a lion closed its snare around a coalition of cheetahs that had come too close.
He told Latest Sightings that a lion had spotted three cheetahs while they were having a drink, and they spotted the same lion chasing these cheetahs on several separate occasions.
Lying In Wait
The first chase appeared to begin after one of the cheetahs spotted the lion keeping a close eye on them. The smaller cat moved towards the lion, which had found a good spot in the tall grass to crouch down and hide.
Even though only the head of the lion was visible, the size difference between these two cats was evident. The cheetah didn’t seem concerned though as it slowly moved closer and closer to the bigger predator.
Suddenly, the lion sprung the trap, leaping from its concealed position to give chase. The cheetah had been standing looking right at the lion’s head poking out from the grass, so perhaps the lion understood that whatever cover it had had was blown.
Time For A Race
Regardless of why the lion chose to spring the trap at that exact point, it was too early. The cheetah had plenty of time to see it coming, and it even turned mockingly slowly before it began to run away.
Lion’s are ambush predators, capable of incredible bursts of speed to capture prey before they can react, but once this cheetah had turned, this attack stopped being an ambush and became a race.
The cheetah might have taken its time turning to run, but once it began the difference in speed between these two animals immediately became clear. The cheetah had been able to afford the time, as now it was leaving the lion behind in the dust.
Let’s Try That Again
In the footage of the lion’s second attempt, the cheetahs seem similarly unconcerned with its presence, and were slowly edging closer to it. It’s possible that the lion was encroaching into their territory, and the cheetahs were trying to intimidate it into leaving.
Lions are larger and stronger than cheetahs, so if it managed to catch one of them it wouldn’t end well for the latter, but neither could they afford to let a rival predator roam freely in their hunting grounds.
When the lion gave chase the cheetahs scattered once again, leaving the lion to watch them disappearing into distance.
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Third Time’s The Charm
On one occasion, the lion ran up close to the vehicle Daniel was filming from. The cheetahs were behind it, so the lion was potentially trying to use the vehicle as a bit of cover to help it get closer before it started the charge.
The lion was clearly very interested in capturing one of the cheetahs, but once again it was doomed to failure as they saw it coming and ran before it. At least the lion was putting in a good effort, even if it wasn’t coming close to capturing one of its targets.
This was an amazing sighting which really captured the difference in ability between two big cats, and it’s not one which Daniel would forget any time soon.