Many prey animals travel in herd because this is the safest way for them to live their lives. When hungry predators could be lurking around any corner, having numbers allows them to protect themselves from attacks.
Once predators or misfortune separate members from the herd, however, then they are often at far greater risk. Ruan Spies caught this vulnerability on camera at Sabi Sands, and sent the footage to Latest Sightings.
Closing In
Seemingly lost and alone, the young buffalo was trapped by a circling hyena which came closer and closer, emboldened by the buffalo’s vulnerability. How this buffalo became separated from the rest of the herd remains unknown.
The buffalo might have been trying to take shelter in the sparse trees, but these would not keep it safe from the hungry hunters. A second hyena watched from the treeline as the first darted in closer and closer to its prey.
Although young, alone and vulnerable, this buffalo calf was not defenseless and it made an attempt to gore the attacking hyena with its horns. But without others to back it up, the hyena could easily dodge out of the way.
Without The Herd
Buffalo are typically very protective of their young, like most prey animals are, which made it strange that the hyenas had managed to isolate this one without the rest of the herd to keep it safe.
When threatened, buffalo herds form protective circles with their horns facing outwards. This creates an impenetrable wall that predators can’t get through without severe risk of injury.
Alone, these horns don’t function nearly as well for protection. Hunters like these hyenas know that the buffalo’s horns can only face one direction at a time, and if they’re nimble enough to dodge then they can completely negate these attacks.
Around The Defenses
The buffalo might have been able to catch one of the hyenas with its horns if it got lucky, but the hyena was perfectly capable of anticipating and dodging its attempts to defend itself.
Eventually, after some brief sparring, the hyena was able to dart behind the buffalo and sink its teeth into its hind quarters. Once there, it could hold on and the buffalo wasn’t able to twist or turn enough to catch it.
Now the hyena had the buffalo securely in its jaws, and the buffalo couldn’t dislodge it, it was only a matter of time before the hyenas succeeded. Knowing this, more hyenas began to emerge from the trees, eagerly awaiting their feast.
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Dinner Is Served
The buffalo could only struggle for so long before the hyenas were able to bring it to the ground. Once there the carnivores that had been waiting in the wings came forward to feast on the carcass.
With the risk of other, larger predators like lions coming to investigate the sounds of the hunt, these hyenas would need to eat quickly to ensure they got their fill, but they were up to the challenge.
Seeing a young calf alone and desperately fighting for survival might be an emotional experience, but this sighting captures the brutality that is a daily fact of life for these animals. For the hyenas, a successful hunt means their own survival.