Lionesses take down a giraffe.
It's a well-earned meal,
enough for a whole pride ...
... or two ...
or three.
But what happens when those prides share a violent past?
Who will get the lion's share of this feast?
This small pride consists of just two adult lionesses.
They're skilled giraffe hunters, with tactics developed over generations.
They've learned to avoid the giraffes lethal kicks.
This larger pride specializes in buffalo hunting.
A lion can be impaled by those horns.
But these lionesses are fearless.
They're bloodthirsty nomads who are always on the move.
And these lionesses are members of the largest pride in this area.
But that doesn't mean they're safe from threats.
Today, the two giraffe hunters aren't alone.
They're joined by the lionesses from the largest pride.
These keen observers have seen the opportunity
to get a meal without too much effort.
The expert giraffe hunters already have their prey tethered in their teeth.
Together, the two prides bring down the giraffe.
Others hear the struggle.
It's the nomad pride: the buffalo hunters.
These lions are even more opportunistic than the larger pride.
Perhaps a free meal is in the cards.
The two expert giraffe hunters bite their prey's throat to swiftly end its life.
They'll share this giraffe with the lionesses who helped them.
There's more than enough meat here.
Everyone is hungry.
And with that in common,
small pride and large pride feed together.
The nomad pride is closer now.
Soon they'll smell a familiar odor.
The scent of a rival pride.
The large pride currently eating with the giraffe hunters
are sworn enemies of the nomads.
They were once caught in the act
hunting the nomads buffalo herd in a riverbed.
But they were no match for the buffalo ...
and no match for the nomads, who attacked them for trying to poach their prey.
Not content with the win,
the nomads proceeded to brutally torture one of the enemy pride's young lionesses ...
then left her to die.
The nomads close in.
But their presence is picked up by baboons.
The lions know these calls.
Trouble is on its way.
But what kind of trouble?
The two prides continue to gorge themselves.
The nomad pride is now close enough to know what lies ahead.
They can smell the promise of fresh meat
mingled with the scent of the enemy pride who tried to kill their buffalo.
A free meal, and another chance to teach the big pride a lesson.
It's enticing.
The baboons keep up their warnings.
The pride's remain focused on the kill ...
while the nomads put their plan into action.
Two young males from the pride are called on to make the first move.
They come from the west, boldly walking straight towards the feeding lions.
Finally, the invading pride's presence is registered.
The young males circle, looking for a place to squeeze into the crowd and start eating.
While the rest of the nomads make their move.
It's now obvious that this meal will be interrupted
... and not in a polite way.
The nomadic lionesses draw closer.
Their intentions are still unclear.
But whatever they're about to do, their approach is determined,
confident,
fearless.
Is this lioness also looking to take a seat at the banquet?
It happens quickly.
A targeted bite.
Not out of the giraffe, but out of a young lioness.
Last time the nomads met this large pride, they used the same strategy.
Target a young lioness. Tortured and kill her.
Hit the pride where it hurts.
One minute she's eating to survive,
but now the young lioness will have to fight to survive.
The nomads surround her.
The little lionesses pride interrupts their meal to look at her.
She's badly injured.
But if she manages to stand, her mother and aunties
may share their food with her until she recovers.
An uneasy truce prevails as the prides feast together.
The nomads have what it takes to intimidate their enemies.
They've killed and maimed before.
And if they strike again,
the future of the largest pride in the area may be in jeopardy.
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