Alone, a ground squirrel might be outpowered in a stand-off with a cape cobra. However, visitors of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park witnessed the power of numbers when seven squirrels – and a mongoose – took on a vehement cape cobra near the Nossob Campsite in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Lara De Matos was fortunate to get videos of this sighting. Annette Smit took these amazing photographs and shared the story.
This sighting played out during lunchtime at a popular campsite, Nossob. Little did they know that right near the swimming pool area of the campsite, something remarkable was about to happen.
“My husband was the first person to see the activity at the campsite near the swimming pool area,” she said. “We saw the cape cobra and ground squirrels and knew something was bound to happen! We grabbed our cameras, and set off for a closer view.”
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Ground squirrels form a united front
When the family got closer, they saw that the ground squirrels were trying to keep the cape cobra away from their underground burrows, where they raise their young.
This they did by making themselves appear larger and more threatening; puffing up their tails and moving towards the cobra with sudden, intimidating movements.
The cobra struck out with the speed of lightening, but somehow the squirrels managed to evade the snake every time.
They took turns in attacking the snake, lashing out at it from different angles.
Eventually they had the cobra surrounded. Their tails were on high alert, in the air, and they moved around the cobra with vigilance.
The snake eyed their every move and held its ground.
Mongoose arrives on the scene
Lara described how a mongoose suddenly arrived on the scene and took over.
While the squirrels had been acting to protect their young, a mongoose can in fact kill and eat a snake! This mongoose was definitely a fighter, and launched an attack at the snake with little fear.
The ground squirrels, possibly relieved the mongoose had arrived, took a rest. They watched the showdown from the side, as did Lara and her family.
“After a while, the mongoose withdrew, while the squirrels again tried to deter the cobra. When the mongoose finally came back into the attack, the cape cobra decided it best to leave the scene. They all followed him to ensure that he was leaving for good.”
A sighting to remember
Lara and her family’s sighting shows that anything is possible in a game reserve and that beautiful sightings can happen on one’s doorstep at a campsite.
It might have not been a lion taking down an antelope; but this showdown, with smaller key players, was, as Lara describes, ‘My best opportunity for photography ever!’
“Almost everybody in the camp gathered to watch the encounter and there was heaps of excitement and interaction. It happened over a long weekend and there were a lot of parents with their young children. One father said that this was an experience that no child can have in any school. And that he felt so privileged that his children could have experienced it. One of the young boys said that it was the best sighting ever, better than any cage fight.”
Lara continues to be amazed how some squirrels and a mongoose succeeded in showing a snake who was boss. “I am terrified of snakes, but the way the ground squirrels and mongoose prevented the snake from moving in any direction reassured me somewhat, especially from where we were standing, I had a sense of security. I was very afraid that the mongoose or ground squirrels might die but later heard that they both have strong resistance to the venom of the cape cobra. If someone had told me that before the fight, I surely would have enjoyed it a lot more.”