Watch Dozens of Wildebeest Run For Their Lives from Two Hungry Lions, One Not So Lucky

Key Points

• There is only one place where some wildebeest can get up the riverbank which narrows down the area where the lions have to hunt.
• As we join the action, it looks as if one lioness has already made a kill but she leaves the carcass to attempt getting another one.
• The lions have a pride of cubs to feed so the more meat they can obtain from this kill the better.

As the video at the bottom of this page shows, predators need to take their opportunities when they can. A few lions (at least one male and one female) are hunting near the crossing point of a river. This gives them an ideal place to find a lot of prey all in one location at the same time. There is only one place where some wildebeest can get up the riverbank which narrows down the area where the lions have to hunt.

Hunting at the Riverbank

As we join the action, it looks as if one lioness has already made a kill. But she knows that there is a lot more food on the menu so she leaves the carcass and tries her luck at another one. However, wildebeests live in herds for a reason! There is safety in numbers and with so many animals running around at the same time, the lioness looks as if she is a little overwhelmed. Suddenly, a male lion comes charging out of nowhere and targets one of the smaller wildebeest. He drags it to the ground and makes the kill.

A little later we see that a third wildebeest is almost caught by the lioness but stands its ground and she backs off. The lions have a pride of cubs to feed so the more meat they can obtain from this kill the better.

How Do Lions Normally Hunt?

It is normal for female lions to hunt as a pride. Male lions hunt alone or with other lions. They risk being injured as they subdue prey so it is not unusual to see a lioness backing down. She had already secured some food for her pride, so it was not worth her getting injured to get any more.

It is also typical for them to launch an attack when they are in striking range and to run in front of the prey to cut them off. It may be upsetting but we also get a good view of the killing method in this clip. Lions tend to suffocate the prey with a powerful bite to the neck. This crushes the trachea (windpipe) so the animal cannot breathe. It’s bad news for the wildebeest but good news for the lion cubs waiting at home!

Watch the Incredible Footage Below: