As the rain pelts down in Madikwe Game Reserve, a pack of wild dogs hones in on a female kudu. After chasing the cow into a waterhole, the eager dogs surround the water waiting for the opportunity to strike. After the pack draws the kudu out of the water, a herd of seemingly curious elephants shows up to inspect the action.
Nico Verster, lodge manager for Jamala Madikwe Royal Safari Lodge recounts the incident: "We were all amazed at the arrival of the elephant herd as we assumed they would keep their distance due to the on-going kill, however they seemed curious and ready to get involved. The matriarch attempted to chase the dogs off but soon gave up, forming a barrier around their own young and standing their ground, they watched the kill happen, in silence."
It's pretty rare to experience such a phenomenal animal encounter and even rarer to capture it on film.
Footage courtesy of Nico Verster and Jamala Madikwe Royal Safari Lodge.
1 1 Wild dogs kill kudu (with an interruption from some elephants)