A Landscape of Fear | Big Cat Week

NARRATOR: Lions are awkward in the trees.
But on solid ground, they'll not only
steal from other predators, they'll go out
of their way to take them out.
Even the much smaller wild dog is seen as competition,
and competition must be destroyed.
[birds chirping]
Wild dogs generally do whatever they can to stay
out of this big cat's way.
But if she gets a whiff of them, she'll go on the offensive,
tracking them down with deadly intent.
Silently, the lioness approaches then attacks.
In the confusion, the normally diligent dogs
leave their pups unattended.
[music playing]
By the time the adults return, four of the pups are dead.
Not interested in eating them, the lioness
leaves the bodies behind--
like a warning to stay out of her way.
The behavior seems barbaric but fewer wild dogs in the pack
means more food for the lion's future.
Scientists even have a name for the lion's strategy
of threat and intimidation.
They call it the landscape of fear,
and it extends to all the big predators who
dare to cross the lion's path.

A Landscape of Fear | Big Cat Week

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