Francis Kijazi sent this dramatic video to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while on a game drive in Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park.
Lone wildebeest
Francis’ video starts innocently enough. A lone female wildebeest is making its way past a waterhole.
Since wildebeest normally travel in herds for their mutual protection, this is somewhat unusual but not unheard of.
Hiding in plain sight
As it proceeds, four lions come into view, a young male and three lionesses. While the wildebeest hasn’t seen them, they are keeping a close eye on it.
By lying low to the ground and not moving, the lion’s tawny coats help them merge into the background. Still, it is amazing that they remain undetected.
Good peripheral vision
Wisely, the lions hold their ground, waiting for the oblivious wildebeest to pass them. Like all herbivores, the wildebeests’ eyes are situated on the side of their head, giving them a wide peripheral view.
So, by waiting until it passes, the lions are minimising the chance of being spotted when they make their move. Predator vision is forward-focused on their prey, meaning they are better able to judge distances.
Even when the wildebeest moves out of frame, the lions hold their ground. But as it gets further away, their chance of a successful hunt declines with every step.
Both animals can reach top speeds of 80 km/h, although wildebeest normally have the stamina to outrun the lions.
Ambush launched
Just when it looks like the wildebeest might just get away, the lions launch their ambush.
Suddenly aware of their presence, the wildebeest takes flight too. At this point, the hunts’ success balances on a knife edge.
Element of surprise
Despite their equal speeds, the lions had the element of surprise. As such, one of the lionesses reaches top speed in just a few long strides.
Even so, it is still unclear which of the species will prevail.
Surprise success
Consequently, it comes as a surprise when the lioness easily catches up to, and then pulls down the wildebeest.
Shedding some light on the ease with which the lion was successful, Francis told us that he suspects the wildebeest was sick. This could also explain why the wildebeest was alone.
Sealed fate
Whatever the case, once the lioness got hold of it, the wildebeest stood little chance of escape, much less survival.
Biting into its spine, the lion easily wrestled the wildebeest to the ground. Then, she rolled it onto its back and went for its throat.
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Reinforcements arrive
Making things worse for the captured ungulate, the other lions arrived not long after.
As they join their pride mate, we can see that their bellies are round and full. This may explain their initial delay in initiating their hunt. That said, when their prey started moving away, it seemed to have triggered their instinct to chase
Predators often hunt even when full, a testament to how strong their hunting instinct is. To humans, this may seem greedy or excessive but our rules don’t apply in Nature.
A wasteful death?
As Francis’ video draws to a close, the wildebeests’ movements are slowing as it is starved of oxygen. Eventually, it lies motionless. Even so, the lions are in no rush to start feeding.
Rest assured, whether or not the lions feed, there will be a long list of organisms which will benefit from the kill. In Nature, nothing goes to waste, even if it doesn’t go to those responsible for the death.