Watch The Sighting:
Koert Grobler was on safari one day near Skukuza Rest Camp in Kruger National Park. After setting out early in the morning, and immediately spotted a pride of eleven lions and a couple of hyenas.
As the day progressed, Koert continued his drive towards Tshokwane and could hardly believe his next sighting!
Wild Dogs On The Road!
Straight ahead of him on the road, a pack of wild dogs had made a kill! “My heart was pounding, and I battled to keep the camera still. I realized that I’m extremely lucky to see wild dogs, let alone a kill in the road.”
Having only had access to his phone camera, Koert hoped that the wild dogs would stay near his vehicle. Suddenly, while watching the feast unfold, a hyena charged into the scene!
Initially, the dogs scattered, completely surprised by the hyena’s sudden interruption. Within seconds, they retaliated by yipping, lunging, and biting the hyena to scare it away.
Clash Of The Carnivores
The battle continued with the bold hyena unfazed by the dogs’ attempt to intimidate it, but the action was only beginning to unfold!
Hyenas are known for their bold nature as both opportunists and predators, and are highly competitive for food, even among clan members.
Drawn by the scent and commotion, a second hyena raced onto the scene, catching everyone off guard! Smaller and more cautious, the dogs stayed back and watched from a distance as the two hyenas battled it out over the carcass.
A Savage Struggle
Eventually, the hyenas broke out into a brutal tug of war over the carcass, each tugging on a different limb. Finally, one of the hyenas broke off a leg and frantically scrambled away with it before any other animal could challenge it.
This left the other hyena with the remainder of the carcass, but now that there was only one competitor left, the five wild dogs regained the confidence to challenge it! Koert couldn’t believe his eyes as he watched the wild dogs fiercely try to reclaim their meal.
Even though the odds were in the dogs’ favour, the hyena still made off with most of the scraps due to its aggression. After several minutes, the battle was over, and the pack could enjoy the peace under the shade of a nearby tree.
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A Rare Encounter To Remember
Koert reflected that seeing wild dogs in the Kruger is always a rare sighting, but being five meters away is a once-in-a-lifetime event! This sighting teaches us that nature is raw, unpredictable, and at times, very exciting!
Witnessing the brutal competition for survival between predators and scavengers is a reminder of the delicate balance of life in the wild. Every moment in the bush can bring awe, fear, and exhilaration all at once.