About the Author

Sean Cresswell

Alumni Ranger

Sean is one of the humblest rangers you are likely to meet. Quietly going about his day, enriching the lives of the many guests he takes out into the bush, it is only when he posts a Week in Pictures or writes an ...

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40 Comments

on Lion vs Wild Dog: Their Innate Conflict Exposed

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It is very sad, but an incredible once in a lifetime experience. We saw the wild dog pack as well, the previous morning, so this touch deeper. We have got the photos of all of them together. I sometimes feel lions are very cruel, but it is nature.

I remember that you and Des has seen them before, it really touches deeper that way, you’re right. Yes, as you say, it is nature. Keep well, Marinda.

Mike C
Guest

I almost stopped a few paragraphs in due to your warning but glad I didn’t. Awesome perspective and words on the harsh reality in the African bush. Amazing post!

Thanks, Mike. Then I’m glad too that you continued reading passed my warming… Despite the harsh content, sometimes these stories need to be told.

An incredible sighting! Difficult to watch, I’m sure. Well written Seano!
James

Dani
Guest

Ah Sean this is perfectly written and explained. An unforgettable evening and so moving to see. Thanks for doing it justice.

Thanks very much for the feedback, Dani. Both you and Henry, as well as the others on the vehicle, were great throughout the evening. It was a difficult situation to explain but you all handled it so well. I’m so glad we all experienced that together! Unforgettable. Keep well, you too.

A beautiful overall message, despite the harsh details, Seano. Loved your outlook on it.

Michael & Terri Klauber
Guest

Sean,

Brilliantly written. The scene you witnessed is the real world at its most real. Thank you for your respectful coverage!

Michael and Terri, I appreciate your comment. And I agree, real world most certainly – the wilderness in its purest form, and what a privilege it was to get such an opportunity to observe it.

Sean. We have been to that theatre and saw a performance. We had the privilege of seeing a pack of Wild Dogs last year and saw them eliminate an adult Impala in a matter of seconds. It is very emotional and no one could have put such an event in better perspective than you have done here. Thanks and very well done.

Ed, a hugely appreciated comment. Thank you for the kind words and compliment. I am glad you felt that the writing did (at least to some degree) do such an event any justice. Some sightings can often be left at just the experience as reading and writing about them cannot evoke the same feeling. But sometimes all we can do is try… Glad that this one carried some emotion!

Thank you for your post. Nature at its harshest but so sensitively written I stopped breathing for a bit..

You’re more than welcome, Suzanna. And thank you for reading it.

Brian C
Guest

Thanks for the very balanced point of view of a violent interaction between animals. Predators do compete and kill one another. It is natural but I feel a bit sad for the wild dog.

Yes of course, Brian, it is sad for the Wild Dog as it was one of the youngsters, but more importantly because of their endangered status and rarity in the lowveld. However, we know that these things happen, and I’m sure the pack will continue to hunt successfully wherever they may be by now, and will most likely have another huge litter of pups at the start of winter. Who knows, we may even see that pack again soon.

Sergey Gorshkov
Guest

Sean, this is a very rare moment. Very interesting.

Hello Sergey, yes indeed a very rare moment. One which can very easily be missed. We were very lucky to be nearby when the pack started to move and very lucky to be up on the northern bank of the river with that open view down onto the water for when it actually happened. A very interesting moment, you’re right. Hope to see you soon, Sergey. Around the next corner!

Senior Digital Ranger

Thanks Sean, a harsh, but beautiful message, but Wildlife is just that! Have a good wild weekend

I agree, fully! Thank you, I did have a good, wild weekend and I hope you did too. Have a phenomenal week and catch up with us on Friday for the week’s pictures!

Penny Parker
Guest

Sean this is so well written – it really encompassed such powerful emotion and a beautifully thought out message.

I appreciate the comment. Glad the emotion and message got across!

Thank you for sharing your story.. beautifully written and love the metaphor of the theatre.. you were blessed to have found a seat at such a profound sighting.. thank you!

It has been my pleasure to share. Thank you, Carla. The theatre metaphor seemed right in this context and I’m happy you enjoyed it.

olivia birigenda
Guest

Thanks a lot for the well-crafted narration of events in our wildness. Yes, a theatre indeed with a not-so free ticket as one might suggest. In real life – with us humans too, survival can be that brutal.
Thank you once again for sharing those tense scenes.

Olivia

Olivier, very good observation. Thank you for feeling the meaning of the post, and for the comment.

barbara sanders
Guest

Your story gripped a lot of the blog readers, especially those who have seen the wild dogs in action. I saw them last year on a kill and caught their distinctive scent. They remain my favorite predator next to leopards. I am still waiting to see a cheetah. A kill of whatever sort is hard to watch, but it does bring home in vivid way that one is truly in the wild. Many thanks for sharing. Well written!

Hi Barabara, yes that experience does most certainly vividly remind one of the wild that surrounds us while out here in the bush. Again, it’s been my pleasure to share; thank you for reading and for the comments. You must really enjoy the Wild Dogs, I too think that they are some of my most favourite predators to watch! I hope you see that elusive Cheetah one day! When are coming back to Londolozi?

Wonderfully written Sean and very difficult to watch I am sure. Cruel to see but a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the wild and something that we have no control over – as it should be.

Wow! What a story. While certainly a rare sighting, I’m madly in love with those dogs and not sure I could have watched this event, so I’m quite grateful to read and see the photos! Well written, I can feel your emotions through your words. Thank you Sean!

It makes it so much harder to hear when you enjoy the dogs so much, I know. Not many people could have, or even did, watch the whole event, Jenifer, so I’m happy I could transfer some of the experience into a blog post. Thanks for the compliment!

Jan van der Walt
Guest

Wow, an incredible read to be sure. As I read your post I expected my eyes to well with tears at the start of every paragraph, but your last paragraph really nailed it. An emotion filled post both sadness at the loss and the triumph over a rival predator.

Jan, I’m glad the post meant so much. Thank you for reading.

Kristine Dong
Guest

Completely poetic piece. Written beautifully. I experienced something similar back in May when one day we spent time with a baby giraffe and then a day later watched as it was devoured by a pride as the giraffe parents stood by and watched. Sad, yes. Amazing sight, definitely. I’ll be back for more…

Thank you so much, Kristine. And wow, that is an incredible thing to have experienced! The additional connection to that calf, on top of the sight of death, must have certainly pulled at the heart strings. But, as you said, sad yet amazing… Was that at Londolozi? And if so, do you remember which pride it was? Because the Sparta Pride are notorious for taking down Giraffe. Glad you will be coming back for more!

Bish
Guest

Wonderful story – very well written … you have to keep on doing this! 😉 Just goes to show …. when you least expect it! Looking forward to being in the bush with you soon!

Kiffy C
Guest

Awesome Sean! Keep up the reports…great to see you so passionate about what you are doing!

ANDY CRESSWELL
Guest

Superb report……….so well written and feels like I was there!!

Hugues Boivin
Guest

Thank you Sean for sharing and explaining that sighting so well! We were with Melvin and that scene really tough for us to watch……could not look at our pictures for one month at least. But now we can understand that’s life in Africa and realize how much lucky we have been to see that hidden part of life in Africa.
Regards see you next year!
Hugues and Evelyne

Thank you for the comment, Hugues and Evelyne. It was a vert tough scene to watch. What I never mentioned was my realisation afterwards that by using my camera so much during the incident, I “removed” myself from the scene as the lens acted as an emotional barrier between the sighting and I. This wasn’t intended, but certainly became apparent afterwards. I am glad that you have accepted the scene as natural and, although very tough to think about, will always be a once-in-a-lifetime memory. A hidden part of life, indeed. I hope you two are well, looking forward to your next visit!

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