Lions never let you down. When we are fortunate enough to witness them getting into their lion-mischief, it typically results in a lot of “sit down and grab your popcorn” activity. They always manage to deliver a spectacle.
This most recent instance begins with what initially appears to be a typical lion encounter: four lions easily knock down a sizable buffalo while taking care to avoid its massive front horns. A curveball is thrown after the buffalo has fallen and appears to be out for the count.
The two males in the video are from a different pride than the two ladies, which may not be immediately clear. By accident, the two males and the females were both able to make kills when the females drove the herd toward them. The four of them appear content to eat together, and as they kill the hapless buffalo, there doesn’t seem to be any conflict.
This all changes when a female from the male’s pride wants in.
Predictably, the males have no problem with their female getting involved, but instantly one of the other females looks far from impressed. After a second or two, she runs around the buffalo and confronts the new female, and all hell breaks loose. In a massive stroke of luck the buffalo gets up and runs off — although the extent to its injuries is not clear.
This fight is not surprising, as prides of lions are actually organized around the females in the groups and not the males, with the males coming and going more often than females. The females in a pride do not usually tolerate outside females messing with their group, causing fights such as this one.
If you need more lion versus buffalo action, watch a lion take down a buffalo right in the middle of the road, surprising a group of tourists.
Filmed in the Mala Mala Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa.
