Posted on 01/31/2010 3:13:18 PM PST by bluecollarman
Hello little antelope, would you like to play with us? Coming from three deadly cheetahs, it's the kind of invitation that's best refused - but amazingly, this impala escaped unscathed from its encounter. Luckily for the youngster, it seems these three male cheetahs simply weren't hungry.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Sure, they played with it before they ate it - like the cheetah mom said “How many times have I told you to play with your food before you eat it?”
It is a natural phenomenon.
Adult predators *practice* on immature prey - when they are too small for a good meal.
Dogs play with kittens, baby squirrels etc.,
It hones their instincts and confuses the prey - who are less suspicious as adults.
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeesh - didn’t any of youse guys live in the country?
They must have eaten papa impala a half hour before...
Yep, that’s what I think. You should read the comments though. Like this one.
“I’m with Patricia so I’m glad it’s already been said... why must you all hate so hard on something that is so sweet and so CUTE?! How on Earth are you supposed to know from looking at 4 photos that this is some elaborate scam of an article? I think these photos are wonderful and it makes me happy to think there sometimes IS a happy ending!”
It happens on occassion, but it sure isn’t common. It’s like the polar bear who was coming and playing with the sled dogs last year. Very cool to observe, very stupid to expect.
Well, that would have just ruined the whole story now, wouldn’t it?
The point is though the article says they let the little guy go.
Yeah, I’ve seen more of the set. They were just playing with their food before they ate it.
can’t we all just get along?
Somewhere I think it said they didn’t print all the pictures one of which was the cheetah’s supposedly eating it ....
“Well, that would have just ruined the whole story now, wouldn’t it?”
Well I think from what I can figure out. The story, which says they let the antelope go, Is false.
This is particularly true for young cheetahs. Their hunting methods are so technical that they must be taught and take longer to become self-sufficient than other big cats. Leopards & lions are much more instinctive killers. Though any cat will "play with its food".
My dog dug a mole out of the snow yesterday and played with it for a while. The mole didn’t fare so well despite not being eaten.
I was kind of surprised that a mole would be active above ground under the snow.
“Yeah, I’ve seen more of the set. They were just playing with their food before they ate it.”
Now that sounds more realistic.
As the old saying goes, the lion may lie down with the lamb, but the lamb won’t get much sleep.
They couldn't quite figure it out, and the antelope escapted.
The lioness let it go. I guess she figured they have to learn, and gave them a hard lesson in growing up.
Yep, the photo of the cheetahs eating to baby Impala were not published but are on the Biosphoto website.
“My dog dug a mole out of the snow yesterday and played with it for a while. The mole didn’t fare so well despite not being eaten.”
He wouldn’t have made it here, my dog don’t play with rats, moles, or squirrels. He’s deadly. I’ve seen him pick squirrels off of the side of trees when they aren’t paying attention.
The mole was dead inside of 10 seconds. Jack Russells are varmint killin machines.
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