In wildlife documentaries, predation is often edited to spare our emotions. In the wild, however, these interactions are often agonising ordeals for predator and prey.
Claudiano Ribeiro submitted this brutal footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while visiting Kenya’s Nairobi National Park.
Drama as old as time
As we join the action on the grassy plains of East Africa, we’re confronted with a drama as old as time. While its herd mates look on, a topi (Damaliscus lunatus) is being attacked by a spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta).
People often think of hyenas as scavengers. However, as you’ll soon see, they are relentless predators too.
Brazen predators
However, unlike the big cats that rely on stealth to ambush their prey, hyenas are much more brazen. Instead, they rely on phenomenal stamina and bone-crushing jaws to incapacitate their prey.
Accordingly, as the video progresses, we get to witness these attributes being put to a rigorous test. With its jaws clamped onto the antelope’s hide, the hyena holds on as the antelope tries desperately to free itself.
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Group vs individual survival
Despite its desperate struggle, none of the antelope’s herd mates come to its aid. The last thing they want is to inadvertently become a target themselves.
Their survival strategy amounts to sacrificing some so that the majority survive. Individually, a topi’s defences amount to a pair of sharp horns, speed, and stamina to match the hyena’s.
Strength-sapping struggle
As predator and prey run side by side, we can see that the hyena’s grip is superficial, in that it is unlikely to cause severe injury.
However, what it does serve to do is make the topi work harder for every step. With each passing moment, the hyena is sapping the antelope’s strength.
Crucially, the hyena’s position means that the topi cannot use its horns to fight back.
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From bad to worse
Subsequently, Claudio loses sight of the pair for a few moments. However, when he finds them again, we see that things have gone from bad to worse for the topi.
Evidently, while the hyena lost its initial grip, it now locks its jaws on the antelope’s upper thigh. Not only will this further strain the topi, but it could also cause a crippling injury to its problems.
And, once again, the hyena’s position prevents the topi from using its horns. The end is near.
Help arrives
Finally, the video cuts to a new scene. The topi has collapsed, and the hyena is tearing into its body.
Amazingly, it is still alive. However, help arrives. Only it is not help for the topi.
As the video draws to a grisly end, two more hyenas arrive and join their clanmate in dispatching the poor topi. It is a brutal end to a valiant fight.