The recent Tyson Fury / Deontay Wilder showdown was a beaut, even if Wilder’s post-fight excuse wasn’t.

Clearly, that boxing bout has absolutely nothing to do with a showdown between a ground squirrel and a Cape cobra in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, but you’re here now so let’s move along.

Filmed by 41-year-old safari guide Dave Pusey (that’s Pusey, not Puzey, like the aptly named gynaecologist that practices in the Cape Town CBD), and shared on Kruger Sightings, the footage shows what is assumed to be a mother squirrel protecting its young from the cobra.

More from Pusey’s description:

“We couldn’t believe our eyes when this scene unfolded before us, and after initially fearing for the ground squirrel, we were amazed at the bravery and speed of the squirrel and how it was irritating the deadly snake. The squirrel kept creeping up to the snake and just as it gets close enough, the snake would launch forward and snap a bite at the squirrel. The squirrel, however, reacted much too quickly and jumped out of the reach of the bite every time!”

For pluckiness alone, the squirrel deserves respect, but then you add in the athleticism and it really is an all-round display.

Off we go:

Be sure to watch the dramatic slow-motion footage from the 1:45 mark.

Pusey, who regularly goes to the park and calls this a “once in a lifetime sighting”, describes the conclusion as follows:

“We waited for the fascinating story to end, and, after about half an hour, the snake took refuge in some bushes and eventually found a hole to slither into. The female squirrel then started relaxing and carried on with her business. It’s most likely that the squirrel had youngsters close by and just wanted the cobra to move away from the area.”

Everyone lives to fight another day, and in the end, nature was the real winner.

[source:krugersightings]