Watch the dramatic sighting here:
David Pinkernell submitted his record of the incident to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while on a walking safari at Mana Pools in Zimbabwe.
Stampede
As the video starts, David says, “Now they stampede!” From the opposite embankment, a thick cloud of dust rises as an estimated 300 buffalo gallop down the slope.
Meanwhile, several lions move toward them, effectively channelling the buffalo into the thick mud of a depleted waterhole.
Obscured by dust
In the chaos and dust, it is difficult to see what is happening. Only when one of the lions turns its attention to loud bellowing in the dustcloud, do we realise something has happened.
Only when the dust settles do we see that the lions have managed to pull down a buffalo calf.
That’s (not) all, folks
Ordinarily, this would be drama enough. But it turns out the buffalos had also heard the calf’s bellowing and soon returned to launch a rescue mission.
Faced with the oncoming herd, the lions do the sensible thing and relinquish their prize. Amazingly, when nudged by one of its herd mates, the young buffalo gets to its feet and rejoins the herd.
Second stampede
However, when the buffalo retreat, the lions once again give chase, leading to a second stampede.
This time, their pursuit is even more successful. The lions have managed to pull down another two calves in the cloying mud.
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Another rescue attempt
Once again, answering the calves’ distress calls, the herd returns to assist. Again, one of the lions relinquishes its catch while the other calf remains pinned down nearby.
Before long, the second lion is chased away from the calf. However, the rescuers were too late and the calf remains dead in the mud.
Another takedown?
After lingering a while by the inert body, another distress call is herd and once again the herd rush to assist. However, we don’t see what happened.
Meanwhile, one of the lions returns to the dead calf and singlehandedly pulls it out of the mud. Soon, other members of the pride arrive to feast.
Retreat
Finally, the buffalo herd moves away to lick their wounds. In the final analysis, of four buffalo calves captured, three were rescued and one lost forever.
David said afterwards, “My wife and I have been on 8 safaris. In 150 days on safari, we had never seen a lion kill. On this safari, we saw more than 4 lion (attacks) in less than 7 minutes! It was incredibly rare! Although, only 1 successful”
Intelligent behaviour
This incident truly captures how strategic lions are in their hunting. Their use of terrain — both the valley and the muddy waterhole — helps channel and slow their prey.
They position themselves at intervals to block escape routes. And, when facing overwhelming resistance, they retreat. Only to mount subsequent attacks.
All of which makes this video a textbook example illustrating the power of the pride.