The wildebeest staggered to its feet after being pulled down by the powerful predators and badly wounded. It ran a few metres, before collapsing, finally succumbing to its injuries.
In search of a leopard
Rodney explained it had been a beautiful day in the reserve and he had gone out with clients to try to find Morwa the leopard.
“His territory was around Sefara and Tlou drive and all the way up to Lenong pass.” He and his clients tried to spot the leopard among the thick vegetation but with no luck.
It was only on their way back, while watching wildebeest and zebra at a watering hole, they managed to see Morwa stalking the game.
Wildebeest run straight into lionesses
The leopard chased the wildebeest away. However, on running from the predator threat, they unknowingly ran into an even greater threat – a pride of lionesses.
The strength of the lion is in the pride and together, lionesses are stealth hunters. These lionesses possibly couldn’t believe their luck – their meal was coming straight to them!
Lionesses ambush wildebeest
“It was the perfect opportunity for the lions to ambush as the game were only aware of the leopard,” said Rodney.
What unfolded was a scene of chaos as the lionesses closed in on the wildebeest, which ran straight into the pride. Two of the young wildebeest were quickly taken down!
Wildebeest put up a fight
The will to live is strong in all animals and these wildebeest weren’t prepared to relent to defeat so easily. They struggled with the lionesses.
One put up an incredible fight, and managed to get up and even run forwards a few steps. This was miraculous as moments earlier, the lionesses had had the animal in their grip.
However, they were suitably distracted and when the wildebeest could see a chance of escape, it took it, even thought its injuries were great. It ran a few miraculous steps, rising up with sheer determination in spite of its pain.
However, its injuries were far too great and it didn’t stay up for long. Its weakened body collapsed to the ground, in a heartbreaking moment. It had given its all and this was commendable.
It had no sooner fallen, when the lions surrounded it again. This time, to finish off the kill.
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In the end, it wasn’t the leopard which took centre stage as Rodney had anticipated, and one could argue it wasn’t even the lionesses which were the stars of the show. Rather, it was the wildebeest which performed the star act, which showed a heroic display of just how powerful an animal’s will to live is.
“Unfortunately for Morwa, he had to give up the chase,” said Rodney. “It was an exciting and overwhelming moment that felt like a scene from a movie!”