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the new South Africa's Kruger pock
on its western boundary lies the Private Reserve Singida
the media the mountain price territory
extends over 8000 hectares the new to keep prey on their toes
they move around to different hunting locations
the next two days they try their luck at a waterhole
this is an ideal setting for an ambush a common hunting strategy for lives
but it tends to be a warm weather sport
in the dry season there's little moisture in the vegetation
grazing animals must come down often to drink
lines know this more
three females into the water hole zone the
two grown adults and one young lion s mine office
they're part of a pact that split off from the mountains pride
hungry splinter group having a go at hunting on their own
related line s is formed the core of any pride
day are the expert hunters the secret to their trade
a pasta down to the female Cubs home
me
huge this morning which the other pride members a sleeping in
their alarm clock will be the sound of a killing
their alarm clock will be the sound of a killing
it the trio's successful
dome
mom
they take up their positions 0
law
before any sign up Prem
up line s number one
is equidistant two numbers 2&3 about 65 meters apart
none of them is stationed more than 45 meters from the water homework
this triangle formation means only one thing:
the ambush on
they surround the waterhole while leaving enough room for Brady to enter
ok experience tells them pray will probably come from this direction
on then down a hill
leads to a popular drinking spot now they wait
the ambush requires perfecting a vital skill
ok patients ok
tune hours go by nothing
gun
all after three hours
a sound thirsty zebra
from the direction the lines expected
they stopped to assess the risk before going further
zebra have learned
the danger lurks in these parts I'll
and they're prepared
they're fast cautious and travel in numbers
all excellent defenses against predators
but first
makes them vulnerable done
the distance closes between hunter hunted
lines and fast
but only in short bursts good
if they don't get close enough that prey will outrun them
to close and they'll give themselves away
ok
any of the line S's can stop the ambush on they'll wait for the defense to make
them up
once the zebra got close enough %uh
here in the red zone Elias will strike
suppose cap number one leads the charge but fails to take down the target
%uh caps two and three year in strategic positions
to intercept fleeing praying
home finally
first trumps fear
it's all going according to plan
until some spectators show up swain since per file
will screech when they sense a threat
the zebra will then be alerted to the hunters blocked
this cat must remain calm
all the ambush goes up in smoke
luckily this older line s knows what to do
remaining still
she convinces them there's no danger up and the hunt is still on
I
now success relies on the last stage
the timing of the charge
how do you know when it's right
no one can say for sure
it takes that unknown unquantifiable factor
experience I
the
all
home the attack ends in failure
in so what went wrong
the 9s its have taken five hours to reach this critical point to the hunt
but it's the culmination have millions have years a pack and pray evolution
that led to the outcome
by in this round of the age-old game
the defense triumphed me
perhaps we should ask what when right for them
me home
many prey species have evolved to live in herds
and there are many benefits safety in numbers for one
and more scouts to look out for danger perhaps they saw or heard the Lions
before the charge
the but looking back
we see the trio flawlessly getting into position
quiet stealthy walking
and artful camouflage good
perhaps the zebra picked up an alarm call from another species
not the spur filed
here the line s is passive concealment preempted detection
well but she couldn't do anything
about another spectator head
all like birds boom send out alarm signals when predators are in the
vicinity
all but the zebra
didn't seem to react to their distant called
what is clear if you look closely
and is a problem with the charge
I'll it seems the timing was off
on the culprit
the rookie bud
as with many youngsters she lacked patience
the ambush might have worked if the Linus waited for the separate to move
into the ideal position for the name to close
the retreating heard would have been cut off by the waterhole
and blocked by the other hunters the inexperienced capped
jumped the gun and scared the zebra back up the hill and the way
ok up
the downside hunting in a pack is that you're only as good
as your weakest link