Watch the sighting here:
Safari Guide, Sebastian Sande Sakala submitted his photos, video and account of the graphic encounter to Latest Sightings. He witnessed it while on safari in the Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia.
Tracking success
Sebastian said he located a pack of wild dogs as they began to hunt. Their target was a nearby herd of Cape buffalo.
Sakala added, “The wild dogs chased the herd and were able to separate a female buffalo with a large hernia (caused by complications giving birth) from the herd.”
Team Tactics
Wild dogs are excellent team hunters, with various pack members assuming different roles in the hunt. In these photos (not from the video), some members harass the buffalo from the front.
Some of the dogs even grabbed the stricken female by her muzzle. By doing so, they partially immobilise the cow to prevent her from fleeing.
Additionally, this allows other dogs to perform a much more gruesome act. Gathering at the buffalo’s rear, they began to target the soft skin around her anus.
Going for the soft spot
Aside from the obvious size advantage, buffalos are armed with heavy, sharp horns and a thick hide. By seizing the cow by the muzzle, they effectively neutralise the threat from the horns.
To penetrate the hide, they jump up and bite the thinner skin between the hind legs. This area is also rich in blood vessels, meaning the wound will bleed profusely.
Surrounded
Surrounded, all the distressed buffalo can do is bellow. She is possibly going into shock by this stage and can do little to repel the mauling dogs.
Relentlessly, the pack practically queues behind her, each waiting their turn to tear chunks of living flesh from her rump.
Hard to miss
Moreover, adding to the morbid nature of this sighting is the massive hernia hanging from the belly of the cow. Here too, the skin is thinner, stretched by the volume of liquid it contains.
Consequently, when one of the dogs grabs it and starts pulling, the sac is easily ripped open. A gruesome gush of fluid floods out.
Pulling apart together
Historically, wild dogs have been maligned for their brutal hunting and feeding behaviour. Being smaller than their competition, they must eat quickly or risk losing their meal.
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To do so, several dogs will pull at the food from different directions. Using their collective strength, they quickly tear food apart, as illustrated in the image below.
Blood loss
Meanwhile, the buffalo was getting weaker by the moment. Bleeding heavily, both from her rear and the perforated hernia, she struggled to stay on her feet.
Consequently, she began to falter as her legs quivered beneath her. As the dogs began to pull chunks of her intestines from her body, she collapsed entirely.
Finally, the dogs swarm onto their prey to, hopefully, end the unfortunate animal’s suffering.
Commendable
Often, people viewing wildlife interfere by getting too close to the action. This can alter the outcome, often with unrealised consequences.
However, in this video, the spectators have given ample room for the drama to play out unaffected by their presence. As Sebastian said, “Don’t forget that we are in their natural environment, and it is important to give the animals space when they are hunting.”