Meals might be few and far between in the wild, where success depends on luck and chance just as much as judgement and strength. Every predator has to be on the lookout for any likely opportunities which are likely to give them a meal to eat and, by extension, survival.
Surita van Heerden caught a lioness trying to take advantage of such an opportunity at the Gasanftombi dam in South Africa, as it burst from cover with a large herd of tasty looking buffalo in its sights.
The size and strength of a buffalo makes it difficult prey, especially for a lone lion hunting without a pride, but this lioness had seen something that convinced her she would be able to pull off the hunt alongside the water.
All You Can Eat Buffet
The lioness was really spoiled for choice as she approached the herd, or so it might have seemed at first. As she circled around behind them, all she would need to do was wait and see which one was too weak to keep up with the others.
Like most other herd animals, buffalo tend to be extremely protective of the weaker and more vulnerable members. They often form impenetrable circles with their horns facing outward to deter potential predators.
Their size and strength makes fighting them difficult for a lion to justify, even if the big cats have numbers on their side. When the herd breaks and runs, this is the best opportunity for the lion to snag a straggler.
Looking Worse All The Time
Unfortunately for the lioness, none of the buffalo appeared to be flagging behind the others, and they were running in a formation so closely packed in together that the big cat couldn’t find an opening.
With them all running so closely together, any attempt the lion made to attack the haunches of one buffalo came with the significant risk of another one trampling her beneath its feet.
Blocked from making a leap, the lioness didn’t have any choice other than to follow along behind the herd as they skirted the edge of the water. An unattractive prospect.
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Cutting The Losses
When option one is a tasty meal, then option two, chasing the buffalo around the water, quickly seemed to be a waste of energy for the lioness. This was energy that would be better conserved for an easier hunt with tangible rewards.
This was essentially a cost-benefit analysis which the lioness undertook in mere seconds, and before she’d taken more than a few strides she’d resolved it in favor of letting the buffalo disappear into the distance.
With her hunting attempt ending with nothing to show for it, the lioness mournfully watched the herd of buffalo get further away as she turned and made her way back to a nice spot she could rest.
Even apex predator’s have luck which runs out sometimes, but every animal needs to come to water to drink eventually, and this lioness would be waiting for them, so that she could spring her next ambush.