Neil Coetzer submitted this video to Latest Sightings, which he filmed in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, South Africa.
Lethargic lions
Neil’s video starts showing an idyllic scene: a large pride of lions is resting near a waterhole.
According to Neil’s account of the incident, there were 25 lions in all, including 2 males, several lionesses and their offspring.
Geriatric giraffe
Suddenly, several members of the pride lifted their heads, all staring in the same direction. Emerging from the surrounding bush, an elderly giraffe was making its way to the water.
We can tell that the giraffe is old by its dark colouration. We surmise that the old bull’s eyesight has deteriorated when several lions first stalk and then confidently trot towards it undetected.
Too good to be true
With four lions just metres away from it, the giraffe continues walking at a relaxed pace. For the lions, it seems almost too good to be true.
It is only when one of the lions runs in front of it, practically right under its feet, that the giraffe seems to notice their presence.
Evasive action
Suddenly alarmed, the bull takes the only evasive action he can: he runs. However, the lions have all but cornered him and at that moment, one leaps up, trying to anchor itself on the bull’s shoulder.
As it does, the giraffe kicks forward. While he doesn’t connect with the lion, he does enough to foil its attack.
Better late than never
Meanwhile, the rest of the lion pride have stirred and are rising to join the hunt. By now, the giraffe is building up speed, as the lions scatter before its flailing hooves.
A giraffe’s heavy ankles and hooves make for a deadly weapon. With the massive momentum generated by their long legs, a single blow could seriously injure a lion.
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Hard to stop
Their long, powerful legs also enable them to accelerate quickly. And, weighing nearly two tons, once they get going, they are hard to stop.
Consequently, as the giraffe disappears into the surrounding vegetation, we hear branches breaking as the bull bashes its way to freedom. Still, stimulated by the sight of the fleeing bull, the rest of the pride sets off in pursuit.
However, they are too late. As the sound of breaking branches gets fainter, the various members abort their pursuit, left to ponder the one that got away.
Perhaps next time, they’ll be less hasty, even if confronted by what seems like a certain meal.
Hunting big game
Despite the dangers involved, lions have evolved a high-risk/high-reward hunting strategy. Lions are the only cats that typically hunt in groups.
Their strong social bonds mean that they are competent in coordinating a strategy, where various members fulfil different roles. While some stalk and drive their prey, others assume ambush positions, waiting to pounce.
Of course, lions are incredibly powerful individually. And when they combine their strength, they have been known to topple adult elephants.
However, as the video shows, large group sizes make them more susceptible to early detection by prey. This explains, in part, why they have a relatively low hunting success rate, ranging between 14 and 30%, depending on the area.