A blue wildebeest made a remarkable escape from a group of lionesses during a hunt in Kruger National Park. Footage from the encounter shows the wildebeest changing direction before leaping over 2 lionesses positioned in its path.
During the jump, one of the wildebeest’s hooves struck a lioness before the animal landed and continued running. The encounter was recorded in 2019 by Florida visitor Lauren Hughey, while safari guide Bonga Njujula photographed the action.
The wildebeest ran into an ambush
The chase initially involved a lioness pursuing the wildebeest, but the fleeing animal soon encountered another predator positioned ahead. It reacted by turning sharply and running back in the direction from which it had come.
That maneuver created another problem because 2 lionesses were waiting along its escape route. Instead of stopping or trying another turn, the wildebeest accelerated toward them and launched itself into the air.
It jumped directly over 2 lionesses
The most dramatic moment came when the wildebeest cleared the 2 waiting lionesses in a single leap. Both predators reacted as the animal passed overhead, but neither managed to bring it down.
The wildebeest’s rear legs also made contact with one lioness during the jump, with contemporary descriptions reporting that a hoof struck the predator’s head. Despite the close encounter, the wildebeest landed and immediately continued its escape.
More lionesses joined the pursuit
Escaping the initial ambush did not immediately end the hunt. Four additional lionesses joined the pursuit, bringing the reported group involved in the encounter to 7 predators.
The numerical advantage appeared substantial, but catching large prey still requires predators to close the distance and successfully restrain it. Wildebeest are powerful animals whose speed, horns and hooves can make an unsuccessful attack risky for a pursuing lion.
The wildebeest headed for the water
With the lionesses still pursuing it, the wildebeest ran toward a shallow section of water. Rather than becoming trapped there, it continued through the water while maintaining enough distance to keep the predators from catching it.
The wildebeest eventually reached the opposite side and continued moving away. Contemporary accounts of the encounter say the pursuing lionesses ultimately failed to catch it, completing an unusually dramatic escape.
Lauren Hughey captured the chase
Lauren Hughey, a visitor from Florida, was filming as the encounter unfolded at Kruger National Park. Her position gave her a clear view as the wildebeest raced away from the lionesses and passed relatively close to the observers.
Safari guide Bonga Njujula, who was associated with Rhino Post Safari Lodge, photographed the encounter at the same time. The combination of photographs and video documented several stages of the wildebeest’s escape.
The wildebeest escaped the entire pride
Despite being pursued by multiple lionesses, the wildebeest survived the encounter and continued on its way. The footage shows how quickly the advantage in a predator and prey encounter can change when the targeted animal reacts successfully.
The video later reached a huge online audience. One verified upload published in June 2019 has accumulated more than 4 million views, turning the wildebeest’s extraordinary leap into a widely watched wildlife moment.
Featured Image: Photo by Catherine Hinrichsen on Unsplash
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