Tom Imrie and I headed off on an afternoon drive in search of the Mhangeni pride that had been seen earlier that morning on the western sections of the reserve. We had no idea what we were going to find. We had made our way into the area where the lions had last been seen and started to look for the last tracks of the pride to put us in the right direction. Not long after discovering the fresh tracks of the lion, the radio crackled to life with Tom’s voice on the other end. “ I have located the lions, get here now, they have caught a buffalo!” said Tom. With a sudden rush of excitement, I made my way to the position and as I got there, Tom came over the radio… “This is not a buffalo, it’s a rhino!”
From afar it looked as though the pride was feeding on a buffalo which would be the general assumption in a situation like this.
At closer inspection, Tom realised that this was actually a Rhino that the Mughene pride were feeding on.
I have never quite seen anything like this before. The large Mhangeni pride feeding voraciously upon an unfortunate young rhino, that had succumbed to the awesome power of this pride of lion. It was reported that a young rhino bull had been seen in the area with injuries that had been caused by an attack from another rhino bull. The weakened bull must have been caught off guard while resting in the bush and been completely over powered by the lioness of the pride as well as 3 of the Majingilane males who no doubt must have helped to bring down this powerful rhino. I can only imagine what it must have been like to see a pride of 13 and 3 large males battle this poor rhino. This video is definitely not for the faint hearted…
Have you ever heard of a pride taking down a rhino?
Written, Photographed and Filmed by Lucien Beaumont
Fantastic sighting. Great video. Sad about the rhino, but it is nature.
The Munghene pride is huge! I am not familiar with them, is LOZ normally part of their territory? Of the 13, what’s the breakdown with sub adults (if you know)?
Wow! There is obviously “not enough” meat to go around 🙂 and “I was here first” applies on this side of the poor Rhino. What happens to the horn as I take it they won’t touch it. Do you actually pick it up & destroy it??? Thanks Lucien
there was more than enough meat to go around i am sure of it. a grown rhino weights more than a buffalo. half a ton u know. they are fighting because the last one gets the left over if there is any . and the most part is taken by the first, naturally the male. u can see all the rest gave him lots of space. i am worried for the one who was lying down . if u look at her belly, it was flat . i hope she was not ill, or too old or injured.