Veon Kuhn sent this interesting video to Latest Sightings. Unfortunately, we have no information detailing where the incident occurred.
Zebras surrounded
As we join the action in Veon’s video, we are met with a curious sight. A herd of zebras stands in a tight bunch, surrounded by a pack of African wild dogs.
Unfortunately, the video doesn’t reveal how it was that the animals found themselves in this situation. However, noting the surrounding vegetation, it is possible that the wild dogs stumbled on the herd, which had somehow failed to notice their approach.
Ordinarily, when predators are spotted, prey species will take evasive action. In this case, we see one of the zebras making alarm calls, signalling the presence of danger.
Willing to defend themselves
Zebras are fairly bold creatures that will defend themselves by any means when confronted by predators and unable to flee. And this is exactly what happens as the stand-off unfolds.
For the most part, the responsibility for herd protection falls to the herd stallion and any males associated with the group. As such, it comes as no surprise when the stallion attempts to break the deadlock by threateningly approaching the dogs.
Zebras can inflict a nasty bite, so the predators are wary of the stallion’s aggressive approach. Ideally, they want the zebras to run, thereby exposing their vulnerable rumps.
Move and counter-move
We note, too, that as the dogs attempt to get behind the herd, the herd tracks their movement, ensuring that they face them at all times.
Additionally, the herd, especially the mares, stand close together, presenting a united front meant to dissuade the dogs from attacking.
Wild dog hunting strategy
For the wild dogs to have the best chance of catching one of the zebras, they will have to split the herd. Should they separate an individual from the protection of the herd, they will be able to concentrate their efforts on that target.
When hunting, wild dogs normally chase their prey over long distances, wearing it down through exhaustion and repeated bite attacks to the rump and belly.
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Countermeasures
However, the zebras appear to be wise to their strategy and steadfastly stick together. They only break ranks occasionally, when individual members of the herd charge at the dogs in an effort to drive them off.
Throughout the course of the video, neither of the species appear to hold an outright advantage. While the zebras do manage to keep the dogs at bay, they are unable to see them off.
As for the dogs, while the zebras can’t drive them off, they can’t find a weakness in their defences.
Success vs failure
For the dogs, the big question is how much energy to invest in trying to split the herd. Since they have a high metabolic rate, wild dogs must hunt and eat more than once a day.
So, eventually, they will have to decide whether they are wasting time trying to break the zebras’ defences.
Unfortunately, the video comes to an end without revealing the outcome of the interaction.
African wild dogs have one of the highest hunting success rates among large African predators, hovering at around 80%. No doubt, this success relates, at least in part, to being able to choose the right targets. In this case, however, it looks like they may have made the wrong choice.