‘Wait, Were You Really Alive?’—Wild Dog Stages a Dramatic Escape, Outsmarting a Lion by Pretending to Be Dead

The African savannah is a wild kingdom where the king of beasts, the lion, reigns supreme. In the wild world of the fittest, every day is eat or be eaten. In a world where today’s hunters could become tomorrow’s prey, it wouldn’t be strange at all.

The incident took place in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. A herd of lycaons was relaxing after hunting while safari tour participants watched on, when they were attacked by a lion.

One Lycaon was captured by the lion’s swift attack. Lycaon is limp and doesn’t move. It now appears that his life is over.

A lion walking around with a lion in its mouth. Lycaon doesn’t move at all.

Will I end up becoming prey to lions?

Just when everyone on the tour thought that, another Lycaon ran in front of the lion. A lion instinctively abandons its prey and chases after it.

It’s that time. Lycaon, who had been held in the lion’s mouth until just a moment ago, suddenly got up and started running like a freed rabbit!

Voices of relief can be heard among the tour guests. The best part of a safari is seeing the wild world as it is, and the members were honestly happy that a life that was about to be lost right in front of their eyes was saved.

By the way, the Lycaon that survived this time is a male named Notch. He is a male who is in a boss-like position leading the herd, and his partner is currently pregnant.

According to a local guide, two weeks after the incident, it was confirmed that Notch and the other Lycaon were uninjured and in good health.

Lycaons are highly social animals. Maybe the other one risked its life to become an Otori and save Notch.