Predator-Prey+Relationships

Predator-Prey Interactions The one thing that every tourist that visits the Serengeti should see is something that is essential to the balance of the ecosystem and status-quo. That something is the classic predator-prey chase. During the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra in early June, it is common to see a cheetah or a lion hunting down a straggler in the huge pack of grazers. Some newcomers might not understand the purpose of the hunt, or why some animals naturally eat others. Here's why this is important :  · During the dry season, a cheetah follows a large herd of wildebeest as they make their way west to the lush pastures alongside Lake Victoria. The very young and the very old are always on the outskirts of the pack as they struggle to keep up. Camouflaged by the golden grass, the cheetah stalks towards one small wildebeest. When it has distanced itself far enough from the group, the cheetah sprints forward towards the juvenile. The wildebeest attempts to run back to safety but it is no match for the incredible speed of the cheetah. The cheetah lunges at the jugular veins of the ungulate and twists to bring death immediately. The cheetah drags the wildebeest back to its spot under an acacia to feast with its cubs.

Cheetah Hunt Video <-- Watch This! Very Interesting!

· A lioness has not eaten for days, and neither have her cubs. In quick, well-planned dashes, she moves towards a lone zebra that has wandered away from his territorial pack. The zebra, even with its superb hearing, does not realize that the lioness is closing in on him. Now less than 10 feet from her prey, she launches herself at the zebra, aiming for the jugular vein, kills, and drags it back to her hungry cubs. The lioness hunts in a similar manner to the cheetah except she does not possess the incredible speed so she tries to get as close to the prey before attacking.