Pre-Dawn Plains Patrol
Out tracking near a resident wild dog den site, guide Mark Winckler and his group scanned the massive open plains just before sunrise. As the golden light of the sun crested, the pack appeared opposite, trotting toward them purposefully.
“Literally, as the sun was coming up, we spotted the dogs on the opposite side, and they were crossing over towards us!” Mark described. He decided to shift his position to get some prime shots of the dogs, when suddenly they exploded into action!
Watch the Sighting:
A herd of impalas had caught their eye from afar, and they were quick to get into formation. The chase thundered across flats, but the savvy antelope vanished into thickets almost immediately.
The wild dogs slowed, quickly realizing the pursuit would end in failure.
A Change in Target
Glancing left, Mark spotted buffalo grazing about 100 meters away, and just as he began to ponder if the dogs would chance a riskier target, the pack had already taken off!
In a flurry of dust and yips, the dogs closed in with precision and targeted a straggler that had be weakened by the recent drought. It wasn’t ill, but its stamina was drained enough to seal its fate.
Mark described the dogs’ efficiency:
“They brought it down the first time, and it never got up after that. The wild dogs then surrounded the buffalo and started nipping and gripping from all angles.”
Siege Against Tough Hide
Up to 30 dogs swarmed, nipping the limbs and flanks of the buffalo in a coordinated assault. Despite their efficient takedown, however, they struggled to penetrate the bovid’s leathery hide, which can be up to two inches thick.
Some of the frustrated dogs briefly re-chased the herd, but returned shortly to resume their assault, finding it easier to target areas where the buffalo’s skin thinned. The massive herbivore grunted in despair, very much alive as dogs gripped and tore.
Lioness Intervention
Drama peaked when a lioness charged into the fray from concealment, scattering the pack of dogs in panicked flight. They were not outnumbered, but rather outmatched in ferocity, deeming a single cat too dangerous.
Lions kill dogs routinely, so their fear was not unwarranted.
Once the dogs cleared, the lioness latched onto the buffalo’s throat, silencing its struggles swiftly. A second lioness, cubs in tow, emerged from the bushes to aid her kin, securing the feast.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
In the end, the dogs were forced to move on, but luckily, they managed to catch different prey later in the day.
A Lesson in Resilience
This sighting perfectly highlights how adaptable and resilient wild dogs are. Because of their small size, they are often bullied away from their kills by larger predators and scavengers.
Their greatest asset, however, is their teamwork. From coordinating the impala chase to taking down the buffalo and finally securing a meal later in the day, these dogs proved that there is always strength in numbers.