The leopard tried numerous times to take the kill, but without success.
Dave first became aware of the two powerful animals when he noticed a commotion beneath a tree in the reserve.
The tree was situated in perfect leopard territory in that there was a nearby outcrop of rocks and generally rugged terrain.
Commotion under tree draws attention
On inspecting the commotion, it became evident that a leopard and a hyena were caught in a tussle.
The reason for the skirmish soon became clear. Just beneath the tree was a fresh kill. The body of an impala ram was reason enough for these two killers to have a go at one another.
The hyena, which appeared to be the more aggressive of the two, chased the leopard up the tree, and the stealth predator watched as the hyena then began to feed on the impala carcass.
Leopard prepared to launch second attack
The leopard, however, wasn’t content to be ‘banished’ to the tree. From the branches of the tree it watched and waited for the perfect moment to re-enter the brawl. This was a hungry leopard which wasn’t about to let its desired meal go.
Hyena and leopard wrestle for prize kill
Eventually it climbed down the tree, and approaching with a resonant and fierce growl, it lashed out its paws at the hyena. The two again engaged in a fight, lunging into one another with full force and fury.
The hyena managed to get away, carrying the impala carcass with it and settling down a few metres away, to commence feasting.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
It was unclear which of the animals was the most stubborn. The hyena was taking chances by staying in the leopard’s territory. The leopard, though having been chased off twice by the hyena now, refused to give up on the hope of a free meal.
Leopard makes third attempt to steal kill
The leopard again waited for the opportune moment, before stalking the feeding hyena and engaging in yet another attack. The hyena left the kill momentarily to intimidate and fight the leopard.
Leopards are solitary, highly agile predators. They rely on ambush, powerful jaws, and the ability to drag prey up trees.
The spotted hyena is built for endurance and raw power, with one of the strongest bite forces among mammals. It’s often underestimated but extremely formidable.
In spite of a leopard’s strength and skill as a predator, in a direct fight, the hyena usually has the upper hand. It’s for this reason that leopards will often avoid hyenas.
Round 3 of leopard vs hyena again ended with the hyena having the upper hand. The leopard moved off to the side, appearing to lick at its wounds.
Hyena moves impala carcass down road
Having shown the leopard who was boss, the hyena returned to the kill. This time, the stubborn creature used some sense and chose to drag the kill down the road away from the leopard. There it continued to feed.
Further down the road, still in the shade of the tree where all the action had ensued, the leopard now searched the ground for scraps of meat from the kill. It hadn’t won the fight, however, these scraps were something of a ‘participation trophy’ for all the effort it had put in.