Watch the Sighting:
This exciting sighting was captured by multiple Latest Sightings members — Adri van den Merwe, Rabbi Auerbach, and the Kiselstein Family, near the Crocodile Bridge in Kruger National Park. Having many members at the sighting allowed for multiple perspectives not only in story-telling but also in photos and videos.
Rabbi Auerbach and the Kiselstein Family were the first to arrive on the scene, having pulled over after spotting the cheetah at the side of the road. Adri was coming from about 10 kilometres away when the action started to unfold.
The Perfect Hunt
After patiently watching the cheetah for several minutes, the action finally started to pick up. The cheetah crouched down and began prowling down the road, clearly stalking some prey.
Rabbi tracked the cheetah’s gaze and discovered an unsuspecting impala grazing in the distance. As they slowly pulled forward in their vehicle, they noticed that there was in fact an entire herd ahead!
A Chaotic Chase
Just then, the cheetah sprang into action, showcasing its famous speed and agility and sending the herd into a frenzy! One unlucky impala’s legs slid out from under it as it was sprinting across the slippery road, and it was game over.
The cheetah was there in seconds, going for the jugular as the impala tried to scramble away.
The Impala Fights Back
Adri arrived seconds after the chase was over, in time to witness the cheetah suffocating the impala at the side of the road. After the impala seemed to still, the cheetah began to feast on its hind legs.
No one was prepared for the shocking turn of events minutes later when the impala began kicking out with its front legs! Everyone was disturbed to see that the impala was still alive as the cheetah continued to feast on it.
While everyone was engrossed in the disturbing scene before them, another threat was slowly getting closer, interested in stealing the cheetah’s hard-earned meal.
The Sky Darkens
A committee of over twenty vultures was gathering on a nearby tree and menacingly watching the cheetah devour the still-kicking impala. As time went on they grew bolder, eventually landing on the ground and making their way over to the feast.
“The cheetah was aware of the vultures and seemed to try and take fast bites as if it knew that it wouldn’t have its meal to himself for long.”
After watching the cheetah for several moments from about a meter away, they finally made their move. The entire committee charged as one, rushing towards the cheetah who had no choice but to abandon its meal and flee the scene!
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Everyone gasped as the vultures completely covered the impala and ravenously feasted. Throughout the frenzy, there was not a single inch of the impala that was visible.
The Final Players
While the chaos unfolded, a lappet-faced vulture landed and completely dominated the other vultures because of its size. It landed on the pile of vultures, sending them scattering and exposing the carcass which had been eaten clean in a matter of minutes!
The vulture then grabbed onto the carcass and dragged it away, threatening the other vultures if they dared approach it. Finally, a hyena came and finished whatever remained on the carcass, finalizing the action of the encounter.
This sighting demonstrates the presence of a predator hierarchy in the wild, but also the fact that there is always strength in numbers. Survival as a wild animal is unpredictable and no meal is ever truly secure.