Matt Fleischack witnessed this gory incident and sent his video to Latest Sightings. He recorded it at Ngala Game Reserve, in the Greater Kruger National Park.
Circumstances unclear
Unfortunately, there is no information available explaining how the incident recorded in the video unfolded. All we can tell you is that it was filmed outside Matt’s garage.
It would seem the impala was fleeing an African wild dog when it was cornered. As we join the action, the dog has its jaws clamped on the unfortunate antelope’s neck.
African wild dogs live and hunt in packs. However, when they hunt herd animals such as impala, an individual may peel off from the pack after a single animal, while others pursue other targets. This likely explains the absence of other dogs in the video.
Unusual grip
Although the dog has the impala by the throat, they don’t often kill their prey by asphyxiation, as is the case with the big cats.
We can surmise that the impala had turned to face its pursuer, and in response, the dog grabbed the nearest available body part, being the neck.
Already weakened
Outmuscled by its attacker, the impala bleats in distress as it is dragged out of the garage area. As the camera perspective changes, we learn that there must have been prior contact between the dog and the young ram.
This, when we see blood visible on the impala’s rear. In all likelihood, the dog had earlier bitten the antelope while chasing it to this location.
Weaker by the moment
Subsequently, clamped by the throat and bleeding from the rear, the impala is getting weaker by the moment. Then the inevitable happens when it collapses to the ground.
The dog continues to drag it for a few metres before realising that its prey has fallen.
Temporary retrieve
Moments later, the dog releases its grip on the impala. Mistakenly believing it has been miraculously released, the young antelope attempts to get to its feet.
However, it is too weak and its hopes are dashed when the dog moves around to its belly.
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Savage teeth
With its prey at its feet, the dog shows no mercy. Wild dogs have teeth designed to rip and tear flesh, and these are put to their grisly task.
As the traumatised impala bleats helplessly, the dog tears through the softer skin of its belly.
By opening its prey in this manner, wild dogs incapacitate their prey quicker than by asphyxiation. Furthermore, the trauma of the injury will lead to massive blood loss, thereby hastening death.
Once the internal organs are exposed, the predator will often eat these first as they are richest in nutrients. As wild dogs frequently lose their prey to larger predators, like lions and hyenas, they rapidly eat between 6-9 kilograms of meat in a single sitting.
This engorging is essential to offset the energy lost during the hunt, and fuel their further survival.
Small mercy
Mercifully for the sensitive viewer, the video ends shortly after. For all its brutality, the efficiency with which the dog’s prey was despatched is impressive.
For those needing some form of consolation, while impalas are the most abundant antelope in the Kruger National Park, African wild dogs are among the most endangered large predators on the planet.
Only 400 roam the vastness of the park, with the total wild population across Africa estimated to be between 3000 and 6600 individuals.