Playing games is an essential part of most mammal’s growth process. As they develop curiosity in the world around them, they learn how to interact with it, and how to behave with their peers.
For these hyena cubs the world that was worth interacting with had narrowed down to include this very important stick. Michael Botes spotted the cubs at the MalaMala Game Reserve, and sent the footage to Latest Sightings.
The Treasured Stick
The hyena cubs were so small that they made the blades of dry grass look big. It was here in this savanna that they found the special stick that was going to become such a core part of the game.
Small enough to still be unsure, the first hyena cub sniffed and poked at the stick before finally picking it up and running off with it, until the other cub quickly intercepted it.
The stick became an important item between the two of them as they wrestled over who had the right to carry it the longest. As far as sticks go it was fairly average, and it was so large and heavy compared to the cubs that they could barely carry it.
See More Incredible Sightings
One of these hyena cubs missed out on the stick eventually, but you don’t need to miss out on more sightings just like this one! Click the button to join our WhatsApp group, and be amongst the first to see our amazing sightings!
Around And Around They Go
Despite the fact that both cubs listed heavily to one side if they tried to run while carrying the stick, they had both decided that they would carry it for as long as they could.
One of them decided to play dirty by holding the stick and simply spinning in a circle. Such a dastardly trick could only result in both cubs probably ending up a little bit dizzy and settling down to chew on their stick in a more relaxed setting.
Making It Personal
Even this peace was only ever going to be momentary, as one cub identified the other as the source of its stickless-ness and attacked, wrestling it directly instead of trying to prise the stick from its grasp.
For a short time the stick itself was forgotten as the two cubs wrestled against each other in the long grass. There was no clear winner, and eventually the two of them remembered what it was they were fighting over and returned to their stick.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
Moving Onto Other Things
Eventually, one of the cubs seemed to grow disillusioned with the stick and move onto curiously investigating the rest of the long grass. This left one cub victorious to chew on it for as long as it wanted.
The great battle of the stick appeared to be over, with the victor uninterested in anything other than the stick itself. When these cubs grow older they’ll move onto hunting other animals rather than inanimate objects.
It’s cute to see them getting so worked up about their game, but all of the strength and skills they’re developing now will help them when they start hunting and stealing for themselves.
As prolific scavengers, more famous for the behavior than many of their predator peers, the ability to swiftly and decisively steal things from others is definitely something they’d want to develop.
