Once predators have eaten their fill, Nature’s clean-up crew moves in to tidy up the remains. In this video, a hyena’s powerful jaws aren’t enough to keep the birds at bay.
Ali Hussnain submitted this video to Latest Sightings. He filmed it on the savanna plains of East Africa.
Nature’s clean-up crew
Ali’s video begins with a view of numerous vultures on the ground. Immediately, we know that they’ve come down to Earth to scavenge.
The species shown is an African white-backed vulture, easily recognised by the fluffy, white feather collar at the base of their long neck. These birds are classified as critically endangered, making the sighting all the more special.
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Meanwhile, Ali’s companions watch the sighting intently, seemingly mesmerised by the action unfolding before them.
While for many, seeing a kill is a bucket list event, watching scavengers clean up after the fact is equally entertaining.
Might is right…
Subsequently, Ali zooms out, revealing that not only vultures have come for the promise of an easy meal. We see a lone spotted hyena dragging the remains of the carcass away from the birds.
While it is unclear which of the species first found the carcass, with its powerful jaws, the hyena appears to think it can have it all its own way. Consequently, it seems there is nothing the birds can do but watch.
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Remains identified
As Ali zooms in on the hyena, we are able to identify the remains as those of a blue wildebeest. They are amongst the most numerous mammals in East Africa, renowned for their circular mass migration of nearly two-million animals.
Simultaneously, we note that there is very little flesh left on the bones. Amongst Africa’s scavengers, only hyenas have the jaw strength necessary to break down entire skeletons.
Getting down to business
Now clear of the vultures, the hyena settles down to devour its meal in peace. Or so it hopes.
As you’d imagine, the vultures are none too happy at having had their meal stolen. But is there anything they can do about it? While the hyena has strength and mobility on its side, do the vultures have a plan?
And now?
A short while later, we learn that they do. Firstly, we see the hyena trotting away from the carcass.
Surely it can’t have finished off the remains so quickly. As it happens, we don’t have to wait long to understand what may have happened.
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Mob tactics
As the camera goes back to where the carcass was abandoned, we see the vultures encircling it. And, with them is a pair of new arrivals.
The commotion has attracted a pair of marabou storks. Conceivably, these substantially larger birds may have caused the hyena to surrender.
Therefore, by using their numerical superiority and mob tactics, the birds have successfully driven off the hyena.
Nature’s undertakers
Marabou storks are often nicknamed “Nature’s undertakers”, thanks to their sombre appearance.
While they mainly live on aquatic species, they often arrive at kills to pick off any scraps found lying around. Let’s hope they find enough to reward their timely arrival.