Watch This Lioness Launch A Covert Attack And Snatch A Duck Straight Out Of The Water

When you visit a zoo, you expect to see wildlife but every so often, something unexpected happens. This zoo-goer managed to capture a stalking lioness as she stood back and waited for the perfect moment to capture an unsuspecting duck in the water. She has to defend her kill immediately after from the male lion approaches, demanding some of the waterfowl she hunted.

Check Out The Entire Video Below!

Do Lions Eat Ducks?

Considering lions are carnivores, they go for almost anything that has some meat on it. Lions in the wild typically hunt in prides (though sometimes the males hunt solo) and they take down a variety of prey, including bison, baby elephants, and rhinoceroses. They also go for smaller prey, including rabbits, wild dogs, mice, and yes, birds!

Lions aren’t picky about their food sources. Typically, if they can capture it and kill it, they’ll eat it. Birds don’t make up a big chunk of their diet because they can get more nutrient-dense meals from other prey but they do, on occasion, feast on birds. Some of those birds include cormorants, flamingos, and as you’ll see in the video at the bottom of the page, ducks.

Do Ducks Travel In Pairs?

Ducks do practice monogamy but only seasonally. Every season, they pair up with a new duck and remain side-by-side for a period. The courtship phase is important for ducks as it allows the males and females time to select an appropriate partner to reproduce. The males’ feathers get super bright green when it’s time to attract their mate. Once they find the right partner, they stick together through winter and make ducklings in the spring.

Lioness Snatches Unsuspecting Duck

When this video starts, a lioness has already taken a cover position next to a small rock. She’s crouched down, hardly hiding, but not very noticeable. As the camera pulls out for a broader view, you see a mallard duck going about its business atop a green pond. These two animals are at the Amsterdam Zoo, sharing space within an exhibit. The lioness has her sights set on the duck and follows it closely with her steadfast gaze. She wiggles her butt the way house cats do just before they pounce.

She pauses and then decides it’s time to go. She rushes over to the pond, where the duck has gotten much too close to the edge. She uses her two forepaws to snatch it right out of the water. The duck stood no chance. She puts its rear end into her mouth and then looks around to see if anyone is approaching to try and take her meal from her. The duck is still alive, helpless as it hangs out her mouth, its head dripping water. Watch to see how she protects her kill when the male lion approaches demandingly.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Dmussman/Shutterstock.com