Hans Schuring witnessed the impala wrestle for its life in a sighting near the Satara camp in Kruger National Park.
Watch The Sighting:
This sensitive sighting is a testament to the will to live present in every living creature.
Wild Dog Takes Down Impala
Hans explained they were travelling between the park’s Satara camp and Phabeni gate when the sighting occurred. As they were driving around a bend, on the H1-2, heading towards the H12, they suddenly saw movement to the right of the road. A wild dog had taken down an impala.
The impala ram lay still on the ground as the wild dog bit at its stomach. “Initially, we were a bit disappointed that we’d missed the actual catch by a matter of maybe seconds, but the following moments were very intense and emotional,” said Hans.
However, this impala’s will to live was so strong that it fought against the wild dog’s attack. It stood to its feet, and with defiance, it looked straight at the wild dog as though to intimidate the predator.
An impala’s horns are mighty weapons, and the buck, though injured, put forth its horns in one final attempt to defend itself. The horns of an impala ram can grow up to 75 cm in length and are lyre-shaped with rings.
Sadly, it was evident the impala would not survive as its intestines were hanging forth from its belly. The wild dog had inflicted severe damage.
“We were in disbelief and shock when we saw that the impala’s intestines were hanging outside his body while he was still alive and fending off the wild dog”, said Hans.
He explains that the emotions in the vehicle were now intense and that they felt a deep sadness for the brave impala, hoping that its misery would soon end.
“It was heartbreaking to watch. He put up a very brave stand-off against the wild dog.”
All the while, the wild dog called out for the other members of the pack to join in the kill.
More Wild Dogs Arrive On The Scene
Up until this point, there had been only one wild dog attacking the impala. The rest of the pack now arrived. The poor impala was soon surrounded by the hungry predators, who showed no mercy in their relentless slaughter of the animal.
With the pack now on the scene, the impala weakened quickly.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
“Once the rest of the pack arrived, the impala made a last attempt to fend off the pack, but they were on him in a matter of seconds and bringing him down, and he finally died”, Hans said.
The brutal and fierce attack was typical wild dog hunting behaviour. Wild dogs have been known to begin eating their prey while it is still alive.
Hans says that while the attack was horrific, it was nature at its best and one of the reasons why they love to come back to the Kruger Park year after year. “In less than ten minutes, the pack devoured the impala, side by side, giving each other an opportunity to eat.”