Watch a Group of Hungry Lions Chase Down a Buffalo and Dog-Pile On Top Of It

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These lions work together like a well-oiled machine. Watch the video below which shows a group of lions chasing down a buffalo together. 

Strength in Numbers

The video starts by showing a singular lion attempting to attack a buffalo. After a short tussle, a bigger group of buffaloes comes to the scene in an attempt to help their friend. With a united charge, they successfully chase the lion away. 

Just when the group of buffaloes lets their collective guard down, multiple new lions begin running toward them from all directions. With each second, a new lion pops up, running toward the buffaloes at full speed! 

The buffalo herd begins to break up at the sight of the lions, with some members trying to stay and fight, while others are running for the hills! In the commotion, one gets a good pounce on a buffalo, bringing it to the ground. A few others join in, grappling onto the same buffalo, forming a dog pile on the ground. 

The clip ends by showing the group of lions biting into the buffalo, happy with their successful hunt! 

Nomadic Lions 

Lions have incredibly intricate social systems that dictate how they hunt, eat, and ultimately live. Most typical prides consist of a few sole males along with many lionesses and cubs. In this setup, females typically hunt, as they are fast and agile, while males maintain societal order and protect the group from outside attackers. 

When new males are born into a pride, they are usually kicked out, or leave at a very young age. When young males leave a pride, they can either form a new pride, join another pride, or live in nomadic groups, which is the case in the video below. 

Nomadic groups often consist of many males who band together to share hunting responsibility. As shown in the video below, nomadic groups can be especially successful in hunting large prey, as they have power in numbers. 

Lions Are Cultural Icons 

In addition to being one of the most well-known animals, lions also have a lot of spiritual and cultural significance. 

Throughout the years, they have had a lot of different symbols and themes attached to them. They can be found in the cultural record back to the time of cave paintings! 

One period of time in which the lion saw a lot of attention was in the medieval period. During this time, they were commonly depicted on weaponry and family crests as a symbol of nobility and honor. Additionally, lions made many appearances in medieval bestiaries, serving as a moral lesson in both a religious and secular manner. 

Is It Normal for Lions to Hunt in Groups?

It is common for lion prides to hunt collectively to take down larger prey like water buffaloes. Lions are known for utilizing group hunting strategies to score a successful hunt. Firstly, lions will often coordinate by stalking, surrounding, and then ambushing the prey. Through teamwork, they surround the prey which causes panic and confusion among the threatened animals. This will help to reveal which animals are younger or weaker if they are stalking a herd.

Once a prime target is identified, lions will chase, leap upon, and drag down the animal as fast as possible to avoid injury. For larger, stronger prey, their teamwork helps achieve a goal that a lone lion would have a very difficult time pulling off. In the case of the video, the lions put the water buffaloes on the run, and the one at the tail end of group appears to be the one that is taken down.