Competition for resources is an essential part of a healthy ecosystem, and this is most evident among predators. In this footage, a lioness goes out of her way to remind a pack of wild dogs who is boss.
Ricardo da Fonseca submitted this fascinating footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed the sighting on the S114 gravel road in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Time to rest
As we join Ricardo at the sighting, we see a pack of African wild dogs lying down to rest through the heat of the day. While these dogs are diurnal, they are most active in the cooler morning and late afternoon.
Ricardo told Latest Sightings that he had seen a pride of lions nearby earlier. Subsequently, he decided to move on in search of something else.
Lone lioness
Subsequently, he found a lone lioness sniffing in the grass. Unsure whether it was scenting the lions or the dogs, he decided to follow.
Sure enough, the lioness then started heading towards where he’d left the dogs. Anticipating action, he decided to follow.
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Path of least resistance
Although the lioness was some 4 kilometres from where he’d seen the dogs, she moved consistently in their direction. Accordingly, he leapfrogged along her anticipated route, tracking the lion while she tracked the dogs.
Despite the heat, the lioness steadfastly remained on the dog’s trail, eventually turning onto the gravel road where the dogs were still resting.
Due to the ease of passage, predators often use roads to cover long distances. As such, Ricardo could follow the lioness as she closed in on her quarry.
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Target acquired
In due course, the lioness spotted the dogs. As the apex African predator, lions routinely hunt other predators.
They do this to reduce competition for food. Occasionally, they also follow other predators to steal what they have caught.
Caught unawares
As the lioness got closer, the dogs dozed on, unaware of the approaching danger. Then, when she was within range, she charged.
Thankfully, the dogs heard the lioness as she ran towards them. Knowing they had no way of defending themselves against the lioness’s superior power, they bolted.
However, while most of the pack got clean away, one of the dogs found itself separated from its kin. In a tense moment, the lioness turned, contemplating going after it.
Behind her, however, she could still hear the other members of the pack in the surrounding bush.
Thankfully for the dogs, she couldn’t decide which way to go.
Due to her indecision, all the dogs made a clean getaway. Consequently, as the video ends, we see the lioness continue along the road.
Ricardo ends his account by telling us he later found all the dogs reunited at the S114/22 junction. We hope the lioness found her pride too.
