For male lions, holding a territory ensures access to resources and an opportunity to establish a legacy. As this intruder found out, it is not a matter to be taken lightly.
Peter Forsyth submitted this dramatic footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed the incident in South Africa’s Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve.
Intruder at rest
Peter’s video opens showing a resting male lion on an airstrip in the Sabi Sands. Sporting a luxuriant mane, he is the picture of confidence.
Peter explained that he had found the lion after hearing it calling. He added that he was surprised to find it wasn’t one of the resident males.
However, he suspected that they, too, would have heard the calls, so he positioned himself to see what would unfold.
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Suspicion confirmed
Subsequently, his suspicion was confirmed when the two males of the ruling coalition appeared at the end of the runway.
Consequently, immediately on seeing the intruder, the residents advanced, ready to protect their domain.
Hidden in plain sight
Surprisingly, even though it was open terrain, and the trespasser seemed to look towards the approaching residents, he failed to see them.
In fact, he was so oblivious to their presence that he seemed ready to take a nap.
Stop-start stalking
The most likely reason for this is that whenever the intruder looked in their direction, the residents would freeze in place.
Then, when he turned the other way, they resumed their approach.
Into attack mode
Consequently, the residents quickly covered the distance to their still-ignorant foe.
Then, when they were about ten metres away, they escalated from stalk to attack mode, charging forward to teach the interloper a lesson.
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Tag-team tactics
At the last moment, the intruder sensed the residents bearing down on him and turned to face them.
However, he could only deal with them one at a time. As he lashed out at the nearest, the other resident moved in, attacking his exposed flank.
Then, as he turned to fend off that attack, the first male went for his exposed rump.
Consequently, he left his belly exposed to the second male.
Mercy shown
Despite the two-pronged attack, the besieged male managed to get back on his feet, prompting the residents to suspend their assault.
By this stage, the residents obviously felt that they had made their point. As the intruder stood defiantly between them, they started roaring, loudly proclaiming their victory and dominance.
As their roars echoed across the landscape, the intruder lowered his head in submission, albeit still snarling, as if to indicate he was bowed but not beaten.
Subsequently, the two males went and lay down a short distance away, apparently content to let their rival depart without further sanction.
One assumes it will be some time before the fortunate intruder visits this neighbourhood again.