In the Kruger National Park, buffalo are a favourite prey of lions. However, due to their size and social behaviour, buffalo are not easily brought down, as this lioness found.
Surita van Heerden sent this exciting clip to Latest Sightings. She filmed it at Gasanftombi Dam, in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Watch the video here:
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Seeing a fierce lioness burst from cover to test the defenses of a heavy buffalo herd is a powerful sight. Get immediate updates on more intense predator hunts by joining our WhatsApp community today. Just click this link to start getting our alerts directly to your phone.
Straight into the action
The video begins at a breathtaking pace. It opens to show a lioness bursting from cover.
Her target: one of the buffalo that had earlier been enjoying a refreshing drink at the dam. As she runs forward, she scans the herd.
Safety in numbers
Alarmed by her sudden appearance, the herd takes off in a stampede. Their defensive strategy begins with finding safety in numbers.
The herd does its best to stay close together. In the process, they make it harder for the predator to spot a vulnerable individual.
The weakest link
Meanwhile, the lioness hopes to scatter the herd. In the process, she has a better chance of identifying the vulnerable members of the herd. These include the young and the injured.
Lions can run much faster than buffalo. Therefore, she is able to conserve energy while hoping that the herd splinters to reveal a target.
However, at a glance, all members of the herd appear to be in good health, and there are no calves in their ranks.
Divide and conquer
Still, she perseveres. If she can get one of the buffalo to separate from the rest of the herd, she may be in with a chance of success.
However, to her disappointment, the buffalo remain tightly bunched. Her best hope now would be to leap onto the nearest buffalo and hope for the best.
She who hesitates…
Using her superior speed, she narrows the gap between herself and the trailing members. However, their flying hooves make it difficult for her to get close enough to launch herself.
Accordingly, no sooner does she get within range than she suddenly hesitates. In that split-second, the buffalo increase the gap between themselves and their pursuer.
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Hope fades
With that, her hopes of securing a meal fade rapidly. Not only are there no viable victims, but she is also beginning to tire.
Although lions can run at 80 km/h, they cannot do so for long distances. Although she was well within range at the beginning of the pursuit, various factors have conspired to deprive her of success.
Consequently, the lioness abandons the chase, checking behind her in case she missed any stragglers. But there are none to be found.
Subsequently, defeated, she stalks back towards the riverside vegetation to set up her next ambush. While it was a bold and brave effort, it was not to be.
Hunting buffalo
Lions are most successful in hunting buffalo when two or more animals are involved. Buffalo are big, strong, and aggressive, so the more lions are involved, the greater the chance of success.
Also, night hunts, where they can use the darkness to their advantage, yield better results than those in the day.
In short, the chances of this lioness succeeding in her attempt were always slim.