Wildebeest is the hunter.

July 5, 2009 7:03 PM

Help me find a wildebeest article, please?

I believe I've read account(s?) of wildebeest hunts where the animal is shot but not killed and gets way, or a child is killed but the parent gets away, and a couple hours or days later the hunter will be attacked by what possibly was the very same hunted wildebeest. I did some google searching and can't find anything. Anyone know what I'm talking about or where I can find such an article? Thanks!

posted by dichronic to science & nature (3 comments total)

As a biologist and as a person who has traveled to Africa and visited the Great Wildebeeste Migration, I can tell you that wildebeeste are not smart enough to survive being shot and then days later attach the very person that shot them. Seconds later, perhaps, but not hours or days.
posted by WhySharksMatter at 8:17 PM on July 5

The best I can suggest was a video that made the uncle-email rounds a few years ago called Battle at Kruger
wherein a baby water buffalo (not wildebeest) is taken down by some lions, then bitten by a crocodile, then the entire buffalo herd comes back and chases off the lions and liberates their (badly wounded, unlikely to survive) calf.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 8:57 PM on July 5

Just backing up Cold Lurkey - african buffalo are what you're looking for, not wildebeest. They're known for mobbing predators, and can drive a lion up a tree just to escape being trampled.
posted by paralith at 10:45 PM on July 5