When a pack of African wild dogs set off after a kudu, the frightened antelope sought refuge in a lodge swimming pool. Although the ploy initially foiled the predators, they ultimately got their meal.
Matthew Holland submitted this short clip to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in South Africa.
Watch the video here:
Relentless dogs
African wild dogs are one of the most efficient predators in Africa. They boast a 80% hunting success rate, compared to about 30% for lions and leopards.
Accordingly, when they lock onto a target animal, the pursued prey must outwit them if it is to survive. In this case, a kudu cow thought it had found safety in a swimming pool.
As we join the action in Matthew’s video, four frustrated dogs circle the small pool, while one rests alongside. In the water, the relieved kudu is only just out of reach.
Not averse to water
Also known as painted wolves, wild dogs are not averse to water. They often swim and are known to follow prey into water.
However, in this instance, they seem reluctant to get wet. This may be because they want to avoid an injury should the kudu start thrashing about. After all, an injured predator will struggle to hunt.
Non-intervention policy
The observers do not intervene, even though the antelope is probably terrified. While some find it hard to watch, Nature must unfold on its own if it is to function properly.
After all, for these highly endangered dogs, this meal is essential to their survival. All the more so when, according to sources, the pack consisted of 17 individuals.
This might just work
As the video progresses, one might think the kudu may escape. By staying in the middle of the pool, the dogs can’t get a hold of it.
Simultaneously, it cannot stay there indefinitely. At this point the interaction is turning into a battle of wills.
Will the dogs give up and leave? Or, will the kudu lose its nerve and try to leave the pool? As the stand-off drags on, it is clear that there can only be one winner.
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And the winner is…
Subsequently, the video cuts to a new scene, revealing the winner. While the footage spares us the gory details of how it unfolded, the pack feeds on the kudu.
Therefore, it would appear that the kudu came within reach, and the dogs managed to pull it out of the water and kill it.
Unlike many other predators, wild dogs seldom kill by suffocating their prey. Instead, they work together to tear their victim apart. While it is brutal to witness, death comes quickly through shock and massive blood loss.
Teamwork makes the dream work
The predation style of wild dogs is known as cooperative endurance hunting. This means they work as a team to chase their prey to exhaustion before killing it.
They have exceptional stamina in the chase, and their cooperative efforts enable them to pull down prey as large as Cape buffalo.