Watch the Surprising Result When 4 Huge Cheetahs Surround a Lone Cat

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The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is a World Heritage Site and covers some 15,000 square kilometers. It is home to millions of animals – amongst these are 500 cheetahs, 1,000 leopards, and at least one very brave serval cat! As the video at the top of this post shows, serval cats may be shy but they are also courageous and willing to take on cheetahs even when they are outnumbered. This is a stunning serval cat vs cheetah showdown in the Serengeti!

Serval Cat Vs Cheetah Showdown In Serengeti

The incredible footage was captured on safari in the Serengeti National Park and starts with four cheetahs spotting a lone serval cat. At first, the larger cats hesitate and observe from a distance. Suddenly, they make a joint decision to trot towards the serval who is crouching in long grass. Whilst this vegetation affords great camouflage, it is not good enough to hide from the cheetahs!

The four cheetahs surround the serval who starts to feel threatened and hisses a warning with high-pitched moans. Then, the cheetahs begin to pace around.  Finally, one of the big cats gets a bit too close and the serval lunges at it. With ears pinned back, the serval continues to lunge at one cheetah after another, keeping them at bay. Eventually, the cheetahs decide that this is too much trouble and start to wander away!

What Other Animals Do Cheetahs Hunt?

According to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, serval cats are hunted by leopards, wild dogs, and hyenas. The cheetahs in this clip did not seem too enthusiastic about hunting servals.

Cheetahs mainly prey on ungulates but the exact animal varies by where the cheetahs are living. For example, cheetahs living in Nairobi National Park hunt mainly Thompson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, and impala. Those living in the Serengeti, as in the above video clip, mainly hunt Thompson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, and wildebeest. These guys eat fast! A group of four cheetahs can polish off an impala in 15 minutes!

How Do Cheetahs Normally Hunt?

Cheetahs are social animals and it is not unusual to see them hunting as a group like the individuals in this clip. Cubs stay with their mothers until they are nearly fully grown and males join together in coalitions

They usually perch on an elevated vantage point such as a termite mound or a tree. Then, they stalk the prey using vegetation to stay hidden. If the prey runs, they chase it and these pursuits last for around 20 seconds. After that, they usually give up! You can read more about what cheetahs normally eat in A-Z Animal’s article What do Cheetahs Eat?