Kudu battle ends in tragedy in Kruger National Park

Sometimes a fight for dominance can be fatal for both parties.

The result of such a behaviour was recently captured by Joep Stevens, general manager of tourism operations at SANParks, when he discovered the carcasses of two kudu bulls with their massive horns entangled.

The bulls, being unable to ‘unlock’ their horns, eventually succumbed to exhaustion. On October 19, Stevens was near the Jaoa waterhole on the H1-6, not far from Shingwedzi, when he saw the two carcasses lying in the bush next to the road.

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“Although these skirmishes for dominance do happen, this is a very rare instance of them dying as a direct result,” he said. “This usually happens due to the shape of the Kudus’ horns.”

Stevens said this was the first time he has witnessed this outcome in 58 years of visiting the Kruger National Park.

“In fights like these both animals obviously do not die simultaneously. In some cases they are attacked by predators before they succumb, which seemed not to have been the case.”

One of the earliest recordings on film of kudus dying like this was taken in 1970 by a former Kruger head, Tol Pienaar.

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In 1977, well-known South African artist, Hennie Potgieter, made a bronze sculpture of two kudu bulls in a fight called “Conquered Victor,” which is standing at Skukuza.