Life in the wild comes replete with a wide array of risks, and these can strike even when they’re least expected. For this hyena taking a stroll down the road, it seemed like it was going to be an idyllic walk until danger struck.
Tonderai Mukuze caught the whole encounter on camera, while travelling on the S90 road in the Kruger National Park. The hyena walked right into a life or death situation, seemingly without even realizing it.
Enjoying A Stroll
The hyena came into view making its way down the road. It didn’t have its guard completely down, but it also clearly wasn’t being as alert as it should have been.
To either side of the road was long grass that just so happened to be the perfect height and color to hide a lion which would take a particular interest in a passing hyena.
Maybe the hyena was starting to think that things were looking too quiet, or it had heard the slightest noise that tipped it off to the danger it was in, but it managed to make it a considerable distance up the road before turning on the spot to sprint back the way it came.
Extreme And Sudden Peril
Quickly, the hyena realized the seriousness of its blunder. Not only had it strolled nonchalantly into the lion’s territory, it had done so in such a way that allowed it to be surrounded.
It’s not clear if the lions were actively hunting the unfortunate hyena, but given their animosity for the rival predators, the lions would have been unlikely to wait long before attacking regardless of the situation.
As the hyena turned to run, two large male lions hiding in the long grasses on both sides of the road began accelerating in an attempt to catch it. Fear gave the hyena speed, but the lions had the advantage of size.
Furious Enemies
Both lions and hyenas are predators which target prey of similar sizes, and often live with overlapping territories and hunting grounds. This makes them deadly enemies to each other.
Every meal which a lion successfully hunts means one less for the hyena, and vice versa, which leads to the two of them attacking each other at any available opportunity.
Although they might prey on a similar pool of animals, lions have the clear advantage of size and strength over a lone hyena, making this a particularly one sided fight.
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Vulnerable And Alone
If it had been part of a much larger group, this hyena might even have considered standing its ground against the larger predators. After all, it looked like there were only two lions, and hyena clans can number over one hundred individuals.
But without the support of a full clan to draw on, this hyena was nothing more than an irritation for the two lions. It’s only real option was to flee as fast as its legs could carry it.
This strategy, while risky, proved to be effective, as the lions eventually grew satisfied that they’d scared the hyena far enough away. They broke off the chase and watched it disappear into the distance, where it would think twice before walking so carelessly again.