Not all sightings of predators are of exhilarating hunts or awe at watching these powerful animals relax. Some of them really capture the savage nature of life in the wild, and they can be a little grim to witness.
Sipho Khoza caught one such sighting on camera, as a hungry hyena capitalized on the weakness of a dying lioness, and began the process of eating it alive.
Oftentimes, moments like these can seem incredibly cruel, but in the natural world food is food, and the hyena needs to eat in order to survive. The lioness, unfortunately, makes a free meal.
One Last Feeble Defence
Although it’s unknown what was killing the lion before the hyena came across it, the hyena recognized that the great beast’s strength was waning, and it hurried in close to begin consuming it without delay.
The lioness didn’t appear to be injured, unless its injury was somehow hidden. It could have been weakened by any number of factors beyond its control, but the only one that was going to benefit from this situation was the hyena.
The lion had enough strength remaining to scare the hyena into retreating, but it was only for a moment. The writing was on the wall and the hyena retreated only enough to ensure its own survival, before coming right back to continue its meal.
A Challenging Meal
This meal was going to be a challenging one for the eager hyena, despite the weakness of the lioness. While the big cat clearly did not have the strength to fight off the hyena, it wasn’t going to just sit and suffer.
Several times over the course of Sipho’s footage the lioness lurched to her feet, and each time the startled hyena retreated momentarily. The lioness barely had the strength to swing a massive paw in her enemy’s direction before she would fall back to the ground.
Given the obvious weakness of the lioness, it was a testament to her ferocity that the hyena still feared her enough to retreat rapidly every time she moved.
Efficient Eating Habits
Hyenas are one of several animals that will begin eating their prey from the hindquarters, making their way further up as they devour the unfortunate animal. When larger animals could come along at any moment and force them to give up their kill, quick eating is imperative.
Starting at the hindquarters means hyenas have to put in less work before reaching the nutritious vital organs they really want, but also means that when they’re in groups they can consume their prey so quickly that its still alive as they devour it.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
Last Reserves Of Strength
The lioness was still managing to take the occasional swipe at its assailant, but her last vestiges of strength were failing her, and she was unable to stop the hyena from slowly consuming her.
This is a rather grim sighting to watch, but it’s a part of the natural cycle of nature. The lioness’s death means the hyena’s survival, and similar stories play out across the world every day.