After catching a warthog, this lioness cut off its air supply by clamping her jaws over its windpipe. However, her pride mates were in no mood to wait until the deed was done.
Mabhuti Witbooi submitted this challenging footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while on a game drive in South Africa’s Pumba Private Game Reserve.
Watch the video here:
Dinner secured
As Mabhuti’s video begins, we see a lioness holding a warthog by the throat. Although we don’t see the actual hunt, warthogs do feature regularly in the diet of lions.
Initially, the warthog is motionless, leading us to think it may already be dead. However, when a hind leg suddenly kicks out, it becomes apparent that it is still very much alive.
As can be seen, the lioness is in the process of asphyxiating her prey. This process can take anything from one to ten minutes.
Dinner guests arrive
Subsequently, a second lioness arrives, hoping to share her sibling’s prize. Lions are the world’s largest social carnivore, living in prides consisting of between 2 and 50 individuals.
They hunt cooperatively, using complex tactics to outmanoeuvre and outmuscle prey. Even so, they don’t always willingly share their kills.
However, in this case, the new arrival meets no resistance as she takes her place at the warthog’s hindquarters. Lions will often start feeding in this meat-rich area, which also offers access to the nutritious organs.
Meanwhile, the warthog’s laboured gasping reminds us that it is still very much alive.
Better table manners.
Subsequently, a second lioness arrives. Unlike the previous arrival, this one seems to have better “manners”.
Unlike the first arrival, she greets the first lion with an affectionate head rub. This is a typical lion ritual, serving to reaffirm social bonds.
She then collapses onto her side, evidently in no hurry to start feeding. As she does so, however, she lands on the pig’s head. Consequently, its anguished squeals confirm that it is still alive.
Strangely, even after completing her greeting, the latest arrival seemed in no rush to feed. That said, all three lionesses are in excellent condition, suggesting they may have eaten recently.
Incidentally, you may notice that the second two lions are almost white in colour. Pumba Game Reserve is trying to preserve this rare genetic trait, which is found naturally in the Timbavati lion population in the Greater Kruger National Park.
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Eaten alive
Eventually, the second arrival positions herself to start feeding. Meanwhile, the first arrival is busily feeding between the warthog’s hind legs.
However, although its movements are getting more feeble by the minute, the poor pig is still alive. Researchers theorize that prey may go into shock and suggest that they may not feel pain, even when eaten alive.
Job done
After several minutes with her jaws firmly clamped on her victim’s throat, the hunter finally lets go of her chokehold. By this stage, there is no further movement from the pig.
A combination of asphyxiation, shock, and blood loss has ended its life. Her job done, the hunter prepares to join the feast at last.
