Spotted hyenas earn renown as scavengers, using their intelligence to steal from predators. However, as this video shows, even they have limits.
Regular contributor Deon Kelbrick submitted this amusing footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while on a game drive for Nkhoro Bush Lodge in South Africa’s Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve.
Lying in wait
As we join Deon at the sighting, we see a spotted hyena lying at the base of a tree. It lifts its head, curious about something in the tree above.
As Deon explained, a large male leopard had forced its son off a kill that was hanging in the tree. Subsequently, the hyena arrived, hoping to feed on falling scraps of meat.
I’ve had enough
Subsequently, the bigger male decided he’d had his fill. Then, when the hyena heard the leopard descending, it sprang into action.
As the leopard leapt to the ground, the hyena chased after it.
However, by the time it reached the top of the embankment, the leopard was long gone.
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Second leopard emerges
Subsequently, the second leopard emerged from its hiding place on the horizontal branch, just as the hyena turned back.
Perhaps annoyed at being thwarted by the larger cat, the hyena seemed determined to take out its frustration on the smaller son.
An obvious problem
However, there was one major and rather obvious problem. The leopard and the carcass were both several metres out of reach.
Even so, the hyena was not about to give up. Consequently, it launched what would turn out to be a rather comical effort to grab either the leopard or the kill.
A cunning plan
After weighing up its options at the foot of the tree, the hyena’s plan was simple. It would jump and catch one or the other.
Meanwhile, the leopard looked down from on high. Believing itself safe, all it had to do was watch and wait.
Shake it loose
The hyena’s first idea was to climb the tree. Accordingly, it leapt at the trunk.
The only problem was that hyenas can’t climb. Simply put, they have neither the claws nor the physique to do so.
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Plan B
Accordingly, it moved straight on to Plan B. Subsequently, we’re treated to the hilarious sight of a hyena trying to do something else it is not built to do: jump.
To give it its due, by using the slope, the hyena did get some considerable height. Except it was still some distance shy of either the leopard or the carcass.
The hyena tried several times but with the same result. Strangely, after each attempt, it dragged a shrub between its hind legs, scent-marking for some reason.
Can’t climb, jump… or land
As the hyena got more frustrated, it seemed it was getting tired too. Still, it was determined.
Even so, the poor scavenger’s legs couldn’t take it anymore. Consequently, it had a rather humiliating fall.
At this, the hyena abandoned his plan. Probably the smartest thing it had done in quite a while.
Consequently, the video ends more or less as it started with the hyena looking longingly up the tree. Let’s hope the leopard dropped him some scraps as a reward for the entertainment.
