Ansie Ras submitted this video to Latest Sightings. The incident occurred in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Stealthy approach
As we join the action, a lone lioness stalks through the long grass, her focus locked on unseen prey ahead.
With her eyes and ears focused on her target, she holds her body low to the ground. This, combined with her tan camouflage, helps her avoid detection.
Picking up the pace
As she remains undetected, she gets ever closer. In general, lions need to stalk as close as possible to their prey before launching a short-range blitz attack. This is because, despite a top speed of 80 km/h, they don’t have the necessary stamina for a prolonged chase.
A short while later, having determined she is within range, she picks up the pace and starts sprinting toward a wildebeest lying underneath a bush.
Despite the lioness breaking cover, the wildebeest remains unaware of its presence.
Fight begins
Too late, the wildebeest realises what is going on. However, it is unable to escape the lion, which launches itself at the still rising wildebeest.
Despite enjoying the element of surprise, the lioness doesn’t manage to get the wildebeest by the throat. As the wildebeest turns, she has to cling to its back to prevent its escape.
Still full of fight, the wildebeest is not about to make this easy for the lion. Bucking like a bronco, it tries to shake the lion off. At one point, it even tries to scrape it off against a nearby shrub.
Now, the outcome hangs in the balance. Should the lioness lose her grip, the wildebeest could well escape.
Help arrives
However, moments later, a second lioness arrives from the right, turning the tables decisively in their favour. To avoid injury, the new arrival waits for the right moment to grab the frantic prey.
As the first lioness and wildebeest spin, the second lioness wisely opts to jump onto the wildebeest’s hindquarters. Now, with a lion hanging from each end, the wildebeest’s prospects of survival are fading rapidly.
Flagging strength
In due course, the wildebeest’s strength begins to flag. Powerfully muscled, and each weighing around 150 kilograms, the predators hang on as their prey begins to buckle.
Even so, the wildebeest is not making it easy for its attackers. As it struggles, the first lioness momentarily loses its grip on her throat, only to grab it again, this time by the muzzle. Either way, the wildebeest is being deprived of much-needed oxygen.
Meanwhile, the second lioness has also repositioned herself and now tries to rip into the wildebeest’s soft belly.
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A rare success
Subsequently, through a combination of exhaustion, oxygen deprivation and possibly injury, the wildebeest collapse to the ground.
In less than a minute, the predatory pair have successfully brought their prey to the ground. As the video comes to a close, the first lioness continues to asphyxiate it, while the second prepares to feast.
This truly is a wonderful example of lion predation, made all the more impressive by the fact that it took place in broad daylight. In the Kruger National Park, only 30% of lions’ attempted hunts are successful, with most of those happening under the cover of darkness.
Woman Adopts Her Perfect Dog, But One Heartbreaking Vet Visit Changes Everything
In the vast sea of dog stories, this particular one had me break into a million pieces! Taylor and Ozzie’s story is real proof of how incredible the bond between dogs and humans can be.
You laugh together, cry together, you share the most intimate secrets and moments, and you just can’t imagine living life without each other anymore! But, what do you do when everything goes wrong? What happens then?
Ozzy’s life story will reveal how truly inspiring the human-dog bond can be, even in what can only be called the worst of times.
Ozzie Was The Perfect Dog
Source: @livingdogfriendly
Taylor adopted Ozzie at just a few weeks of age. She looked on Craigslist for puppies needing to be rehomed and saw a picture of a floppy-eared, brown pup with one blue and one brown eye – and she instantly fell in love!
Ozzie looked like the perfect dog, and the fact that she had to drive from North Carolina all the way to Washington D.C. didn’t stop her! She was inclined to adopt him!
“I was in college, didn’t have that much money, had 3 roommates, was in school full time, played tennis for college full time, and worked part time. How could I fit a puppy into that schedule,” Taylor wrote on Instagram.
Source: @livingdogfriendly
The two formed an amazing bond right off the bat! He was just an amazing pup that adapted into the new life in no time. In a way, both Taylor and Ozzie shared the same hobbies and interests.
Both loved hiking, going to the beach, walking in the park, and basically any outdoor activity.
“He is THE adventure guy. He loves to go hiking, to the beach, kayaking, in the snow, to breweries, parks, literally you put him in the car (or on a train, yes, he has been on a train) and he is ready for the adventure,” wrote Taylor.
Every time they had a chance to embark on a new adventure – they took it! Ozzie has always been an adventurous boi, and that really made his new mom fall in love with him even more!
Source: @livingdogfriendly
Years later, Taylor and her partner adopted another dog, Lulu, who became Ozzie’s best friend.
The two formed an incredible bond and really enjoyed each other’s company. Their playtime was practically a zoomie-show, and despite the fact that both were so energetic, they would always end the day with the sweetest snuggling ever!
Several amazing years later, Taylor noticed Ozzie limping, and she immediately rushed him to the vet. Unfortunately, the diagnosis was horrible!
The Devastating Vet Visit
Source: @livingdogfriendly
The vet took Ozzie to do some X-rays, and ten minutes later, he came out with the heartbreaking diagnosis. Ozzie suffered from osteosarcoma – a bone tumor and he only had a couple of months to live.
After receiving the news, Taylor was devastated. She called her husband who immediately left work and came. Luckily, there was one option to extend Ozzie’s life for several extra months – the amputation of his front leg and chemo.
Source: @livingdogfriendly
The couple didn’t think twice. They agreed to subject Ozzie to treatment despite all the hardship and extra commitment that awaited.
But, even through his surgery – Ozzie was just the most enthusiastic, happiest boi! He didn’t take the smile off his face even for one bit. He was a real fighter, and so were his parents!
Ozzie got his own, big bag that Taylor and her husband got just for walks. As he didn’t have so much strength (especially after chemo) to hike and walk like he used to, the couple carried him on their back, sometimes even for several miles.
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A post shared by Lulu & forever Ozzie (@livingdogfriendly)
They just couldn’t stand the idea of Ozzie not being able to enjoy his favorite things – and this was the only way to do it. His mom and dad did everything to make his quality of life better, and despite his progressing disease, Ozzie enjoyed every single moment!
The entire family helped Ozzie during his journey. Taylor’s dad, who was also battling cancer and lived in another state, felt the need to support this big boi. He’d send ice cream for Ozzie after every chemo session, which was just the cutest thing ever.
And, Lulu was just the greatest sister ever. Normally, she’s extremely hyper, but once she realized her brother was in pain, she turned into the gentlest sibling ever.
Your Memory Will Be Preserved, Good Boi
Source: @livingdogfriendly
After months of battling with his terminal disease, Ozzie sadly crossed the rainbow bridge. He lost the battle with cancer in March 2023 and went to eternal sleep.
Taylor and her husband were very heartbroken to part ways with Ozzie, but the fact that this beautiful boi had an amazing life till his last breath helped them cope.
“You touched so many lives, more than I had ever imagined a dog could. The love you gave was ever present and you lit up every room you walked into,” Taylor wrote in the touching Instagram post.
Ozzie was a unique dog, and he indeed made his family’s life so beautiful! Taylor and her family have moved to a new home in Virginia, but if I can say one thing with certainty, it’s that his legacy will certainly be remembered by his loved ones… Forever!
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