As the hyenas closed in, the wildebeest quickly sensed the danger, triggering a chaotic stampede in all directions. The hyenas, aware of the risks of getting caught in the frenzy, knew they needed to isolate a single wildebeest to ensure a successful hunt. One hyena managed to do just that, cornering a wildebeest near the edge of a steep cliff.
Wildebeests are typically fast runners, capable of outpacing a lone hyena under normal circumstances. However, with the cliff looming ahead, the wildebeest found itself trapped, faced with a desperate choice: confront the hyena or leap off the cliff. In a split-second decision, the wildebeest chose the latter, hurtling off the edge without hesitation.
The wildebeest soared through the air before crashing head-first into the riverbank below, the force of the impact leaving it momentarily stunned. This brief pause allowed the pursuing hyena to close the distance, seemingly sealing the fate of the wildebeest. Yet, in a stroke of luck, the wildebeest regained its footing just in time and dashed into the water below.
The hyena, reluctant to follow into the river, was forced to abandon the chase. In the end, it was the river that proved to be the wildebeest’s unexpected savior, turning what seemed like a hopeless situation into a narrow escape.
Watch the encounter in the video below, courtesy of Latestsightings.com:
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