Lions adjust their hunting tactics based on the prey at hand, with each pride member instinctively playing their part in a well-coordinated plan.

Instead of the usual throat bite used on smaller animals like gazelles, lions target the hindquarters of a 700kg buffalo—whose sharp horns can impale and powerful hooves can crush bones. This coordinated attack on the buffalo’s rear, observed in 62% of hunts in a 2018 Kruger National Park study, limits the buffalo’s ability to charge or kick effectively.

Research from the Okavango Delta in 2019 found that prides of six or more lions use this strategy in 67% of hunts, dividing roles to distract the buffalo’s front while others disable its rear. A 2020 Serengeti study noted a 28% chance that a lion might get kicked during these hunts, but this approach is still safer than confronting the buffalo head-on, significantly lowering the risk of severe injury.

[📹 scottvandijk]