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When he witnessed the dramatic incident, Klaus Boehmer was on safari with his daughter, Kira, in Botswana’s Khwai Community Concession. He submitted his record of the encounter to Latest Sightings.
Unplanned detour
Klaus said that while en route to a wild dog den, his guide, Master, suggested they first visit a nearby lion sighting. The lions had killed a wildebeest and were waiting for the dominant male to finish feeding.
He said, “We counted two huge male lions, three or four females and a few cubs.” As they were preparing to leave, a guide spotted some impala, pursued by two wild dogs, running straight towards the lions.
Lions alert
The lions also spotted the approaching animals and immediately readied themselves for an ambush.
When the lead dogs ran full-tilt into their trap, they pounced…
Blur of violence
What happened next was difficult to see in the low light. As the dog realised it’s mistake, it yelped in surprise as it ran right into the clutches of the waiting lions.
When the dust settled moments later, Klaus and his party saw that one of the male lions had caught the unfortunate dog.
Lucky escape for one.
Moments later, the second dog arrived on the scene but was able to avoid further disaster. Things were not looking at all good for the first dog which was clamped in the lion’s jaws.
As the lion is heard crunching the bones of the unfortunate canine, it is easy to assume that its death was the only foreseeable outcome. So much so, that soon the lion stood over his victim, apparently satisfied it was dead.
Miracle!
However, when the lion moved away, the unexpected happened. To the amazement of the onlookers, the dog cautiously raised its head.
Meanwhile, the lion was unaware of the miraculous resurrection. Proclaiming its victory, it proudly marked its territory nearby…
Subsequently, we see the dog’s head sink slowly to the ground, leaving us to wonder whether it will survive.
Unexpected
Then the unexpected happened. As the pride once again settled, the injured dog not only got up but managed to flee the scene.
One of the male’s saw what was happening and gave chase. We can only imagine that the dog, infused with adrenaline, somehow found the strength to outrun its pursuer.
Even so, given the extent of its injuries, would it survive?
Not giving up hope
Klaus was determined to find out, although others were not so sure. That evening, to their amazement, the weakened dog returned to the den site.
It duly collapsed into the dust. Now, Klaus could see that it had been mauled on its right hind leg and ribcage.
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Over the following three days, they visited the den regularly. Although the dog was alive, it was weak — even refusing to eat the food offered by its pack mates.
Lingering death
When Klaus returned to Khwai a year later, he learned of the dog’s ultimate fate. His guide told him that it had actually survived for several weeks before finally succumbing to its injuries.
Inter-predator competition
Incidents like this are not uncommon in Nature. A distinct hierarchy exists among predators and, in Africa, lions reign supreme.
When lions kill other predators, they seldom feed on the remains of their fallen foes. For them, it is about proclaiming dominance, almost as if even the flesh of their competitor is inferior.