This injured kudu bull in Pilanesberg was one of the most heartbreaking wildlife sightings I’ve experienced. Not every encounter in the wild ends in wonder. Some stay with you because they break your heart.
This massive kudu bull, strong and in his prime, lay helpless on the tar road with broken back legs and deep claw marks down his side.
Whether struck by a vehicle or escaping a predator attack, his body was broken, but his spirit wasn’t. He kept trying to stand, and failing. Again and again.
On Video: Injured kudu bull in Pilanesberg
I witnessed this heartbreaking moment while driving along Tshwene Drive in Pilanesberg National Park.
That’s where I spotted a kudu bull lying next to the tar road. At first, I wasn’t sure what was wrong, but as I got a better look, it became clear he was badly injured and unable to get up.
The Final Hours of a Kudu Bull in Pilanesberg
I spent hours beside this dying giant, watching, hoping, feeling utterly helpless. Someone had already informed park officials about his condition, so there was nothing more I could do but stay with him.
At one point, I found myself speaking to him gently: “It’s okay, boy… It’s going to be over soon.”
I didn’t know what else to do. It was a quiet, desperate comfort I offered more for myself than for him. The pain in the air was heavy, and the sorrow ran deep, the kind that doesn’t leave you quickly..
The sound of his hooves scraping against the tar road echoed with every attempt, followed by the hard thud of his body crashing back down onto the surface. It was brutal to watch.
He started on the left side of the road and, after hours of trying, had somehow moved across to the right, still trying to survive, still believing in movement. And at one point, I saw something I’ll never forget: tears in his eyes.
Whether it was pain, exhaustion, or something deeper, I could feel it in my chest. This was a warrior in his final hours, and I was a silent witness to his struggle.
What Happened
It’s hard to say exactly what led to this kudu bull’s condition, but there are two likely possibilities. He may have fled from a predator and sustained serious injuries during or after the chase, possibly breaking his back legs or spine in the process.
Or he could have been hit by a vehicle while crossing the road, which broke his back and spine.
What’s certain is that a predator did get hold of him. The deep claw marks across his body made that clear. Judging by the pattern and size of the marks, it was likely a leopard.
But even in his injured state, the kudu was still too strong for a clean takedown. Leopards are generally too small to overpower a fully grown bull like this on their own.
They rely on stealth and precision, and this wasn’t a clean kill. It was just a failed attempt that left the kudu badly wounded. If it had been a lion, the job would likely have been finished.
- Curious about other unforgettable encounters? Read about my experiences at Addo Elephant National Park
From Suffering to Stillness
After a quick lunch break, I returned to the area and heard quiet rumours that the rangers had decided to put the kudu down. His suffering had gone on long enough.
If he had been hit by a car, or if the injuries were from his desperate escape, there was sadly no recovery possible. The humane choice was to end his pain.
Later that same day, two leopards appeared. It’s possible they were the same ones responsible for the earlier claw marks.
Knowing the bull was too strong to take down in the moment, they may have simply waited nearby, returning once he was no longer a threat. They began feeding and remained close, feeding well into the following day.
As difficult as it was to witness, it was nature in its rawest form — nothing wasted, everything connected. Even in death, the kudu gave something back to the wild.
