In a bizarre turn of events a lioness is left confused as a wildebeest practically falls asleep in front of her mid hunt!
Juan Malan 25-year-old safari and trails guide captured the adrenaline-pumping scene in the Lapalala Wilderness. Juan shared the sighting with LatestSightings.com.
“While we were on a drive with the lodge owners, we decided to explore the northern part of the property, hoping to see something extraordinary. As we drove along, our first exciting encounter was a lone lioness hiding in the bushes. She was carefully looking out over the open grasslands, hoping to find a chance to catch some prey, even though there weren’t any animals in sight at that time.”
“Hours later, when we returned to the same spot, the scene had dramatically changed. In the open plains, we spotted a group of wildebeest peacefully grazing. However, among them was a female wildebeest with a broken back leg, struggling to keep up. The lioness had been stealthily stalking her from a distance.” The anticipation hung in the air as the group parked off, with their eyes glued to the unfolding drama.
The lioness confronted the wildebeest head-on. A standoff! The lioness, accustomed to he prey running from her, felt puzzled as the wildebeest stood firm. She then crouched, belly to the ground, choosing to wait it out.
The wildebeest copied the lioness by crouching down, making it look although it was almost about to fall sleep. But the truth is, wildebeests fight like this. For the wildebeest, crouching down onto the ground was the biggest mistake it could make. The lioness saw the opportunity and pounced.
Successfully taking down the injured wildebeest. With her powerful jaws, she clamped onto her prey. One deadly bite to the throat and that was the end for the wildebeest. The lioness then dragged her kill back into the thicket, seeking shade and protection.
What came next was truly special and heartwarming – she called her cubs from the depths of the bush, and Juan’s lens captured the heartwarming sight of a mother teaching her young ones the ways of the wild. Playtime ensued as the cubs jumped and rolled in the grass, all while the wildebeest provided sustenance for the family.
