Running for deer life! Antelope faces attack from all sides when two jackals join eagle's bid to hunt it down

  • The antelope runs for its life though Kruger National Park in South Africa
  • Two jackals pursue the creature on the ground while an eagle circles it above
  • The footage was captured by field guide Shaun Etsebeth, 33, near Tshokwane

This is the dramatic moment an antelope had to escape predators on land and in the air when two jackals and an eagle tried to chase it down.

Shaun Etsebeth, 33, had been leading a tour though Kruger National Park, in South Africa, when he spotted the steenbok, a small antelope common in southern and eastern Africa, being pursued by the carnivorous predators.

The field guide, who was on a small road near Tshokwane, watched in awe as the creature managed to outrun both predators and survived to live another day.

The antelope runs through the overgrown grass at Kruger National Park in South Africa as an eagle begins to circle it

The antelope runs through the overgrown grass at Kruger National Park in South Africa as an eagle begins to circle it

Seconds later a jackal appears and beings to chase after the antelope as it runs for its life

Seconds later a jackal appears and beings to chase after the antelope as it runs for its life

He filmed the chase, which starts with the small antelope running through long grass as a tawny eagle flies above it.

The eagle circles above the steenbok as it frantically tries to escape.

Seconds later, two black-backed jackals emerge from the tall grass and join the chase. 

Mr Etsebeth told LatestSightings.com: 'We were on a drive when we spotted a tawny eagle up in a tree. 

'We stopped for a minute when the eagle suddenly dove and started chasing after a steenbok in the grass.

'It was surprising enough to see the eagle hunt such large prey, and I was lucky to have been able to catch this on video as the action was very short-lived. 

'It wasn't long before we noticed movement from another direction, when two black-backed jackals entered the frame out of nowhere! 

'Even though this was a short chase, and neither the jackals nor the eagle managed to catch the steenbok, this was a first-time sighting for me. 

'The steenbok managed to outrun both predators and survived to live another day.' 

The steenbook runs through the national park as the eagle swoops and circles above it

The steenbook runs through the national park as the eagle swoops and circles above it

The antelope eventually outran both sets of predators, tour guide Shaun Etsebeth revealed

The antelope eventually outran both sets of predators, tour guide Shaun Etsebeth revealed

Tawny eagles belong to the family of birds classified as Accipitridae and typically feed on reptiles, birds, warthogs, small animals and aquatic life forms.

The predator, which is frequently spotted in Kruger National Park, has a wingspan of around six feet (1.83 metres).

Meanwhile black-backed jackals, which are often a red-rust colour coat with a distinct black patch on their back from the neck to the tail, often feed on small mammals, reptiles, birds, eggs, carrion and fruit. 

The footage was filmed on June 21, but only shared online today.