When everyone thought a tragic end awaited the “fearless” calf, something unexpected happened.
An interesting video recorded in Kruger National Park (South Africa) shows a young buffalo seemingly lost from its mother, crying out in distress.
However, just as the calf was still searching for its mother, a mature lioness suddenly appeared in the distance, stealthily approaching. It seemed attracted by the calf’s cries and was on the hunt for the young animal.
For the lion, this was akin to “a meal served on a platter,” as the calf was too small to recognize the danger. It showed no signs of caution and approached the lion as if nothing was wrong.
Seizing the opportunity, the lion eagerly observed its prey and prepared to pounce.
Just when everyone expected a tragic ending for the “fearless” calf, the mother buffalo arrived just in time.
Charging in bravely from the roadside, she confronted the lion right before it could execute its plan, forcing the predator to retreat. As a result, the calf’s life was spared before it could fall into the clutches of the hunter.
The naive calf approaches the lion. (Screenshot from the video).
Although they are herbivores, African buffaloes are one of the few species that make lions cautious when they plan an attack. With adult weights ranging from 500 kg to 1 ton, the African buffalo (also known as the Cape buffalo) is likened to a sturdy tank capable of tossing away any enemy with its sharp horns.
In contrast, African buffaloes have very few natural “enemies,” including humans. In most cases, they are ready to fight back and can kill any opponent that stands in their way.
For this reason, lions typically only hunt young, immature buffaloes or older ones that can no longer defend themselves. To take down an adult buffalo, lions often need a combination of strength and pack tactics, or they risk a humiliating defeat.
In fact, there are many instances where a solitary African buffalo has fought off 9 to 10 adult lions and still managed to survive remarkably.
