Lion steals buffalo from wild dogs

As the sun was about to rise, Mark and the tourists saw wild dogs appear on the opposite side and head towards them. Mark shifted position at the end of the field to get a better angle. That’s when the dogs formed a formation as if they were chasing something. They saw some impala and the chase began, but the impalas quickly darted into the bushes. The wild dogs knew their chances of catching the impalas were slim and they began to lose interest, Latest Sightings reported on September 18.

However, Mark noticed a herd of buffalo about 100 meters away. The wild dogs also spotted a new target and rushed towards it. They were very clever, targeting a buffalo and trying to separate it from the herd. Then, they joined forces to wrestle the buffalo to the ground. “The buffalo was not sick but quite weak from the recent drought. The wild dogs wrestled it down for the first time and it could not get up again. They surrounded the buffalo and shot at its head and bit it from all angles,” Mark recounted.

Cape buffalo have very thick hides. Even with a pack of wild dogs, it is extremely difficult for them to tear through the hide. Some dogs even become frustrated and continue to chase the buffalo. But when they see the buffalo still lying helpless on the ground, they turn around, aiming for every soft and sensitive spot.

Suddenly, a male lion came running. The wild dogs were caught off guard and had to scatter. Despite their numbers, confronting the lions was still too much of a risk for them. The buffalo that was still alive could only lie still, letting the lioness jump on its neck. Other lionesses and cubs emerged from the bushes to share the meal. Eventually, the lions had the buffalo all to themselves and the wild dogs were forced to leave.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the African wild dog is one of the world’s most endangered mammals, with about 1,400 individuals remaining in the wild. The largest wild dog populations are concentrated in southern Africa and East Africa. This pack-living predator specializes in hunting antelope and can reach top speeds of more than 70 km/h.