WILD DOGS CHASE IMPALA INTO THE WATER

The pack had spent the day in the shade under some mopane trees close to a big clearing. As we approached, the adults were sleeping, but the 6 pups had started to play around. They started to whine at the adult dogs to rose them to hunt. A speedy chase was imminent.

The adults got up and stretched a few times, and started to trot off. Suddenly they accelerated into the bushes, leaving us struggling to follow through branches and golden orb spider webs. The pack had split in all directions leaving us floundering to keep in sight. We briefly spotted a young impala kicking its back legs up high and heading for the waterhole.

When we got to the water, there the impala was swimming away froma solitary dog that was watching him intently from the side. As night fell the impala was still swimming from side to side, and the fading light made it difficult for us and the wild dog to see where it was. We left the scene having decided that the tenacious impala had avoided certain death that evening.

Posted: Ngala by Ian Pletzer, Date: 28 February 2011

 
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