To tackle large prey like buffalo or giraffe, lions rely on well-orchestrated teamwork. The big cats are successful cooperative hunters and each member of the pride has to play their part in order to secure a sizeable meal. Sometimes though, things don’t go quite to plan …
This ‘fail footage’ was captured by Peter Craig-Cooper on the banks of the Crocodile River in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Craig-Cooper spotted the lions prowling on a riverbank while a herd of impala grazed nearby. As the antelope began to wander closer to the water, the lions prepped for an attack. A lone lioness positioned herself strategically at the base of the riverbank while the male took a less meticulous approach and charged towards the herd in plain view.
“All of a sudden pandemonium broke,” Craig-Cooper explained to Latest Sightings. “The male chasing from the top and the female from the bottom of the bank. The two lions collided as the impala made its escape.”
Lionesses are considerably sleeker and speedier than their much larger male counterparts and are typically more successful hunters. Research indicates that in most cases, females take on the bulk of the hunting responsibilities while the males stick to protecting the pride and helping out with larger targets like adult buffalo which will seldom succumb without a hefty lion or two to help drag them down. When males do hunt, they adopt a different approach, preferring to stalk prey in thicker bush which allows them to get close before launching an attack.
In this case, the lion’s less calculated approach likely cost the cats a meal. Perhaps the hunting is best left to the more skilled lionesses …