Would you really want to see a kill?

This is a guest post by Neil Steedman from Jaci's Lodges in Madikwe Game Reserve. The original posted appeared here

Would you really want to see a kill?

by Neil Steedman – 19 October 2010

A wild dog kill such as this might sound exciting, but in reality it can be quite a gruesome affair

For most of us a wildlife safari holds the promise of a share in the magic and serenity of nature. However, many people soon learn that nature can sometimes be raw and ruthless.

Nature has many things to offer us if we take the time to enjoy its bounty: beautiful landscapes, magnificent animals, interesting small creatures, breathtaking sunsets and sunrises! 

All of this is great, but ask any newcomer to the bush what they would like to see most, and the answer is often, “I would love to see a kill!”

But would you really?

It is often the excitement of seeing the chase, the classic hunter vs the hunted. It’s the anticipation created when a lioness crouches in the grass, ears folded back as she intently stalks her prey.

Out on a game vehicle everything goes quiet as everyone holds their breath and some will the impala to spot the feline predator, while others hope the lioness will make her kill.

Slowly, on silent paws, she creeps nearer ... then suddenly dust fills the air, as the lioness breaks into a full sprint, then everything blurs and the only sound you hear is your heart beating. Then there’s silence.

It is only once the dust settles that you see her, alone and without her intended quarry. This time the impala has escaped and will live to see another day.

For most people, this scenario would represent an exceptional game drive. But what if she caught her prey? Would you want to witness the gory death of another animal?

I had the privilege of watching wild dogs kill a kudu. Although it was an amazing sighting, it was also exceptionally gruesome. We watched as three dogs caught the kudu and disembowelled her while she was still alive. 

Doesn’t sound quite as exciting anymore, does it?

But it is not for us to judge the ways of the wild, for we are merely spectators in this particular game of life.

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