Chris Vermaak submitted this amusing yet gory video to Latest Sightings. He filmed it in the Greater Kruger Conservancy in northeastern South Africa.
Lion scavenging on elephant carcass
Chris told Latest Sightings that he was on a game drive when he came across an interesting sight. A lioness feeding on a deceased elephant (cause of death unknown).
Unfortunately, Chris’s video is very short, so it is impossible to tell whether other lions were present at this gargantuan feast.
The clue of the canines
As he watched the lion feeding at the base of the elephant’s trunk, he got the feeling that he and the lion were not the only ones present.
It would seem that other scavengers had visited the carcass before. Although relatively fresh, something had opened up the elephant’s belly to get at the nutritious organs within.
As Chris continued filming, movement within the elephant’s abdominal cavity drew his attention. Hidden in the shadows, he could just make out a pair of lower canines chomping away in the darkness.
Gory discovery
Subsequently, the mystery muncher revealed itself when a spotted hyena’s head emerged.
Covered in gore from its hideous dining room, the hyena seemed very wary. We have no way of knowing whether it was aware of the lion’s presence.
However, we do know that lions and hyenas share no love for each other, especially when food is involved.
Serious dilemma
Quite how long the hyena had been feasting inside the elephant is unknown. We can only guess that it may have heard something indicating that it was not alone and had decided to investigate.
Regardless, the hyena had a serious dilemma. Should it show itself and risk death or injury in an encounter with an unknown adversary? Or, should it stay put?
Sticking its neck out
Eager to find out just how much danger it was in, the hyena proceeded to poke its whole head and neck out from its hiding place.
One can only imagine that amid the gore, its sense of smell may have been compromised within the elephant’s decaying ribcage.
However, with its nose now slightly removed from the stench inside, it took the opportunity to have a good sniff.
Seventh heaven
For its part, the lion was in seventh heaven. As far as it knew, it had the entire carcass to itself and seemed intent on eating from the trunk to the tail.
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Seventh circle of hell
For the hyena, however, its day was soon to become more like a vision of hell. After scenting the air, it seems the unfortunate scavenger got a whiff of the lion.
Subsequently, with a look that can only be described as sheepish resignation, the trapped hyena reluctantly withdrew back into the rank interior of the fallen elephant.
Some might argue that the hyena had little to complain about. It had food. It had shelter. But even for a scavenger used to eating decaying flesh, this must have been pushing the boundaries of what it considered acceptable.
Unfortunately, we don’t know whether the hyena remained undiscovered. Suffice it to say, we can only wonder if the hyena will think twice before getting stuck into its next meal.