Dubbed the Greatest Show on Earth, the East African wildebeest migration is made up of many dramatic moments. Here, a wildebeest takes the plunge in a quest for survival.
Luke Street of Wild Eye Safaris sent this amazing footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it on safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.
The chase is on
As we join the action in Luke’s video, we see a herd of blue wildebeest (brindled gnu) milling in the background. Then our attention is drawn to a chase underway.
A spotted hyena has cut a wildebeest from the herd and is chasing it back towards the Mara River. Despite a reputation as scavengers, hyenas are also efficient predators.
Big drop. Big decision
Subsequently, the hyena comes to the lip of the eroded river embankment. There, it pauses briefly, contemplating its options.
Meanwhile, the hyena is closing in rapidly from behind. Consequently, the gnu has no choice but to go forward.
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Taking the plunge
Perhaps hoping that the predator won’t follow, it takes the plunge.
But will this be enough to deter its pursuer? Only time will tell.
Subsequently, as the wildebeest lands, it kicks up a cloud of dust. At the same time, the hyena reaches the lip. Will it follow?
The short answer is yes. Up ahead, the wildebeest gathers itself for the remaining descent.
Bottleneck
In the meantime, the hyena exits a gulley, just as the gnu runs into a natural bottleneck in the terrain.
There, it appears to get stuck as the hyena closes in on its vulnerable rump.
Should the wildebeest fail to free itself, its life may soon be over. We wait with bated breath.
That was close
What exactly happens next is obscured by the vegetation. We can only imagine that as the gnu felt the hyena’s snapping jaws, it found the strength to free itself.
However, as it emerges, we see that the hyena seems to have latched onto its hindquarters with its powerful jaws.
The tension mounts as we wait to see what happens next.
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A helping hand from physics
At this moment, the gnu gets a much-needed hand from the physics of gravity. As its momentum carries it, it breaks free of the hyena.
Consequently, we see the hyena lose its footing, sending it nose-diving into the muddy slope.
As a result, we breathe a sigh of relief as the wildebeest plunges into the muddy river.
Both unharmed
Then, as it finds its feet in shallow water, the hyena rises unharmed from its fall, which relieves us.
As the video ends, we see the hyena looking forlornly at the relieved wildebeest.
The question now is whether the gnu can return to the safety of its herd. We’ll call this encounter a draw.