Watch the Sighting:
Field guide, Shaun Etsebeth, was out on safari driving down a small road near Tshokwane, when he spotted a Tawny Eagle perched high up in a tree. He stopped his vehicle so his guests could take photos, but just then, the eagle took an epic dive in chase of some prey on the ground!
A Unique Aerial Attack
When Shaun traced its flight path, he immediately spotted a steenbok frantically sprinting away in the grass. Targeting a steenbok is a very unusual behaviour for a Tawny Eagle, who typically prefers smaller prey items.
Shaun describes the unique encounter and the moment he realized it was even more spectacular than they could have imagined!
“It was surprising enough to see the eagle hunt such large prey, and I was lucky to have been able to catch this on video – as the action was very short-lived. It wasn’t long before we noticed movement from another direction when two black-backed jackals entered the frame out of nowhere!”
New Players Enter the Scene
While the eagle made calculated swoops to try and grab the steenbok with its talons, out of nowhere, two jackals were right on the steenbok’s heels! Realizing the imminent danger, the steenbok knew it had to up its defensive game.
It made a series of quick and sharp turns and added several large leaps to throw off its pursuers. The jackals chased furiously, hoping to claim the prize before their aerial competitor.
Anti-predator Actions
Steenboks have a large variety of predators in Kruger National Park, as they are the most common small antelope. During the first signs of danger, they tend to lie down to conceal themselves in tall grass.
If a predator comes too close, steenboks will take off in leaps and a zigzag pattern to throw off their pursuers, exactly like the steenbok from the story has done. If available, steenbok will also hide in burrows of aardvarks.
An Expert’s Opinion
Even though this sighting is unique on its own, the fact that the eagle pursued such a large prey item is interesting enough on its own. Aldo Berruti, a bird expert, weighed in on the sighting commenting that Tawny Eagles typically hunt prey up to 4kg.
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He added that since steenboks are closer to 11kg, this must have been an opportunistic pursuit from the jackals hunting the steenbok priorly. In the wild, sometimes animals will do days without eating, so when a meal opportunity presents itself, they can’t afford to be picky.
In the End
Against all odds, the steenbok successfully evaded all three predators! The eagle perched itself back up in the tree, and the jackals were left exhausted and confused.
Even though the chase was short, Shaun and his guests were lucky to have witnessed such a rare and exciting encounter in the bush! This sighting gives us a glimpse into nature’s unpredictability, where strategy, speed, and luck determine who eats and who escapes.