Witness this breathtaking moment as a herd of buffalo unites in a display of solidarity, encircling a pride of eight ravenous lionesses and ultimately saving an ailing older bull from imminent demise.
Scroll down for video.
In this extraordinary event, a herd of buffalo swiftly mobilizes as a pride of eight famished lionesses closes in, aiming to save an ailing older bull from an unavoidable fate.
As the lionesses advanced, the buffalo sprang into action, strategically maneuvering the calves behind them. Their colossal males, some weighing up to 900 kilograms, were promptly brought forward, forming an imposing defensive barrier against the impending threat.
Having retreated from the grassy savannah to high ground, they seemed out of danger but one older male buffalo could not scale the steep bank to safety.
One hind leg was left dangling and the lionesses sensed a bigger meal than just a calf and circled in for the kill, with one leaping up onto its haunches.
But the “buffalo soldiers” were having none of it and charged, again and again, to protect their elderly herd member, forcing the lionesses to keep retreating.
After a struggle, the buffalo managed to regain its balance, scrambling up the bank. It turned around, squarely confronting its aggressors, who eventually acknowledged that their hunt would be futile.
Regarded as one of South Africa’s most perilous creatures, the buffalo, with its formidable horns referred to as a “boss,” is infamous for causing over 200 fatalities annually.
The sighting was captured by game ranger Pieter van Wyk at the exclusive MalaMala Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger Park whilst on a drive with guests.
(Pieter van Wyk – Film-maker, left. Nadav Ossendryver – Latest Sightings founder, right)
Pieter, 35, said: “The lionesses had come down to a riverbed when they met a large pride of lionesses who were hungry and on the hunt for a kill to feed on.
The lionesses made a sudden move, seizing a young calf. Despite pinning it down, before they could claim its life, the mother and male members of the buffalo herd fiercely chased the predators away.
Fortunately, the baby calf had a stroke of luck, managing to survive. However, as the herd withdrew into the safety of the bushes, one of the elder members found itself stuck on the steep bank.
“It was a sitting duck, unable to defend itself and the lionesses knew that and they moved in for the kill, being watched by younger cubs of the pride.
“But the male buffalo were not going to give up on their herd member and charged the lionesses, again and again, until they gave up on having it for lunch.
“It was an extremely captivating and adrenaline-pumping sighting and one of my best,” said the father-of-two who works on the 33000 acre Big 5 game reserve.
The buffalo holds a coveted status as a trophy for big game hunters. Among its limited predators, lions and crocodiles stand as its primary threats. Remarkably, these creatures can reach heights of up to 5 feet 6 inches.
However, in this particular encounter, the traditional rulers of the jungle, the lions, found themselves bested by the formidable Buffalo Soldiers…
