UNPROVOKED charge by lion or cape buffalo

[art2africa]

How do these species behave when you get close (50 to 75 yards) to them and they see you? (you'd surprise them, I'd guess).

At this distance, has anyone in this forum (published/read or actual) experienced an UNPROVOKED charge?

[JJHACK]

Unprovoked is a tough definition because we don't define that. We are assuming something may be unprovoked but the animal in question is really the decision maker there......right?

What I mean is when your in the bush and wandering around you could step into a situation where you surprise and animal generating a charge or some sort of bluff standoff. Maybe a mother with young? maybe an animal who is guarding a food source, or a territory. What is the distance that we define unprovoked? If you stumble upon a bear or lion eating something within a few yards thats probably provoked. However what if your 60 yards away from that same animal but you don't know he is eating something. Same could be said for a mother and babies of several species.

I think my opinion is that the animal feels provoked to attack if he does not eat you after he kills you.

If he eats you after he kills you then is was not a "provoked" attack but a predatory attack.

With that said vegetarian animals can only be provoked to attack since they don't stalk and prey on humans for food.  I don't think a vegeterian animal will make an unprovoked attack. I think when they get to the point of a charge they will definately feel as if they were threatened and then do something proactive to make it go away.  

With that said Provoked will have several levels of triggering. Maybe an animal that has been beaten up by a rival during the rut. Or an animal that has just been run off his meal by others. Maybe an animal with an injury or a bad tooth. These could all be on a short fuse for "provoked" attacks.

Heck I'm not the one in charge of defining this I'm just throwing ideas out to the group.  I base these ideas on things I have seen in the ALaskan wilds and the African Bush. Along with my years as a wildlife manager in the PNW for the tree farms.  I'm just not sure that as a Human being with a logical thought process we can impart that same train of thought to an animal. They decide "provoked or un-provoked". If we could get into their heads to understand that we could all be a lot safer in the bush!

[art2africa]

"Provoked" - I meant for self-defense, not only defending itself after being shot/injured, but also, for example: a lioness defending her cubs, any animal eating could be defending his meal. It could also marginally include defending its territory (surprised in proximity). Outside of these would be "unprovoked".

From your response and from others I've read, it seems that it's the animal that determines whether it's "provoked" or not. And all these seem to depend on the "mood" of the animal at the moment. And these only applies to vegetarian DG (like buffalo)?

As to predators (lion), I guess then provocation is not applicable to them.
If its hungry, it will go after prey; otherwise it may fight (self-defense) or flee? I've certainly read stories about lions not minding (but keenly observing) hunters who are stalking them, and/or just simply fleeing. I just want to compile more of these types of experiences with DG (which I can equate to "unpredictable").

[Lawdog]

I haven’t been to the “Dark Continent” yet but I have had a couple of run ins with bears.  One Black Bear sow and the other a boar Grizzly, both had every chance to leave and chose to do other wise.  Lawdog
 

[Questor]

There's an interesting article on this subject by an experienced PH in a recent issue of The Accurate Rifle.

[PeterV]

As JJ has pointed out - we need to understand the definition of "unprovoked" - in my experience with big game and thus "my" terms of reference an unprovoked charge will be where the animal has not been "pushed" by invading it's space and charges on sight of a human (most animals will react by means of a "flight or fight response" - the fight bit starts when the animal's real personal space is invaded and it feels threatened to the point where it charges with the intent to sort the issue out physically).

A colleague of mine recently had an experience with a lady client and a sleeping Cape Buffalo - the buff spotted sleeping in an open area and  approached downwind - at about a 100 yards out the PH clapped his hands to get the buff to stand up for clear shot - on awaking said Buff started charging immediately - the fight stopped after several well placed shots and a few feet from the hunting party. It was all captured on video and the footage makes for very interesting viewing!!!

[James B]

Could be just a bad hair day. :grin: