As predators chase down their prey on the open savanna it’s a race for survival. Lions and cheetahs are some of the most athletic animals on the planet but strength and speed aren’t everything. By precisely measuring the movements of predators and prey during hunts, researchers have now modeled the optimum strategy of both hunter and hunted, unpacking the subtle details of this evolutionary arms race.
GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope and solar panel-equipped wildlife tracking collars, as well as computer simulations, help scientists capture and analyze these measurements and the stories of split-second decision-making that they reveal. Anatomy of a hunt: Speed, strategy and survival from Nature.
Related watching: The Hunt from the BBC.
Plus, videos on this site: Why You Can’t Outrun a Cheetah and Cheetahs on the Edge—Director’s Cut.
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