For the most part, predators don’t like to share their meals with other types of predators. As this footage shows, though, sometimes they make an uneasy truce when there is enough to go around.
Jaco Joubert submitted this fascinating footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while on a game drive at South Africa’s MalaMala Game Reserve.
Croc in the spot
As we join Jaco at the sighting, we see the scaly body of a Nile crocodile as it burrows its head into a kudu carcass. A powerful spotlight illuminates the scene, as used on night drives at MalaMala.
The second thing that strikes us is that the crocodile is out of the water. Normally, they eat their food while in the water.
Equal opportunity feeder
Subsequently, we realise that the croc doesn’t have the carcass to itself. Emerging from the surrounding darkness, a spotted hyena nibbles tentatively at the carcass.
While hyenas are commonly seen by day at MalaMala, they are primarily nocturnal creatures. Like crocodiles, they feed on a mixture of scavenged meat and prey they kill themselves.
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Social and solitary together
Subsequently, a second hyena shows its face. Spotted hyenas are highly social, roaming the plains in clans searching for food.
Given the circumstances, we assume a land-based predator (possibly the hyenas) originally killed the kudu near water. As night fell, the croc emerged from its watery lair to join the feast.
As the croc pulls its head from deep inside the kudu’s chest cavity, it holds a large chunk of flesh aloft. Its glutinous texture suggests it is part of an internal organ, possibly a lung.
Snapping its head backwards, it gathers the meat before swallowing it whole. Crocodiles don’t chew; they have powerful stomach acids that rapidly break down flesh.
Specialised cutting teeth
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Meanwhile, the hyena turns its head sideways to chew through the antelope’s hide. Towards the back of a hyena’s jaws, specialised cutting teeth known as carnassials enable them to shear through even elephant hide as if it were paper.
Like crocodiles, they don’t chew their food, per se. Naturally, however, the chunks they swallow are substantially smaller than those the croc swallows whole.
Uneasy truce
Perhaps due to the abundance of meat, the two carnivores eat in relative peace. However, one does get the sense that it is an uneasy truce, at best.
Both species boast an incredible jaw strength, capable of snapping through bone. Perhaps they share knowledge of the potential damage they could do to one another.
Of course, as creatures dependent on being in good physical condition, they avoid unnecessary confrontation where possible.
Even so, a fresh puncture wound on the croc’s upper mandible suggests it may have been bitten by the hyena earlier.
So much goes unseen under the cover of darkness. As such, it’s great to share these moments when we do get them. Thanks, Jaco and MalaMala!
