napamatt

Finally as promised. A small piece of the action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RKBllKd590

napamatt

Filmed at dusk with my Sony VX2100. The action started so fast I didnt have time to set up the tripod. We were between 50 and 75 yards and so I was zoomed in a good way. Even handheld the camera does a remarkable job of image stabilisation.

Hari - these are the boys you saw at Exeter. I can't understand why the rangers think that they will not survive as a coalition. From memory they range from 5-7 years.

PredatorBiologist

First name Matt Last name Joubert?

Well done, that is some big boys going to work there.

LyndaS

Well done, Matt! That must have been really something to see!

jasher

Hi Matt,

I'm not sure if it was my connection or something, but for some reason I didn't get much sound from the lions (though I did hear the buffalo bellowing) -- were they really that quiet?

These boys have been making their presence felt all over the Sabi Sand -- I saw them at Singita and at MM.

Cheers,
Julian

napamatt

Julian

The Lions did not make any noise, the sounds were the buffalo bellowing and the chatter of the people. I have another clip where you hear the Lions claws ripping the Buffalo's skin.

matnikstym

Incredible footage Matt! Thanks!

santharamhari

Thanks Matt,

Yes, these are the ones i saw. However, i only saw 4 of them properly. The other two were hidden whilst sleeping in tall grass digesting their buffalo steaks and i only saw their tails.

Hari

sundowner

I couldn't watch the whole thing (too early in the morning for it) but I thought they always go for the neck and suffocate them. It sure would make it easier to watch! Great video, Matt. How lucky you were to see this.

napamatt

Sundowner there is much footage before this, as different Lions attempt to limb onboard while the others seek to weaken the Buffalo by attacking its rear legs. Only when they have it diown do they go for the muzzle to suffocate it. In the segment you see the big male go right for it.

sundowner

Thanks, Matt. I'll watch it later in the day.

waynehazle

Yeah, not much for the lions to say while struggling.

Of course they all attack from the back, no one wants to get gored by those massive horns. They obviously had the buffalo so weakened he couldn't even swing around at any of them.

napamatt

Funnily enough this Buffalo went without that much of a fight.

santharamhari

Napamatt:

Watching the feeding is just as fascinating, isnt it?

Hari

napamatt

Yes, my whole movie is about fifteen minutes and includes the hunt, catch, kill and then three days worth of repeat visits to see eating, elephants chasing Lion, hyenas and vultures.