The cheetah was caught by surprise when it finally snapped out of daydreaming, to see the sneaky hyena standing just metres away.
Cheetah stares ahead overlooking spotted hyena
Piet and fellow game viewers sat transfixed by the beauty of the cheetah, which stared ahead, lost in thought. The animal was unaware of the danger closing in.
A spotted hyena entered into view. Its gaze was fixed on the cheetah.
However, in spite of the presence of the hyena, the cheetah lazed in the sun, seemingly without a care in the world.
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Spotted hyenas are often misunderstood creatures. Though commonly thought of as scavengers, they are actually skilled hunters. A large portion of their diet comes from kills they make themselves.
They live in matriarchal clans, where females are dominant and larger than males. Their jaws are also among the strongest in the animal kingdom. These jaws are capable of crushing bones with ease.
Cheetahs, on the other hand, are built for speed rather than strength. They are the fastest land animals, capable of sprinting up to 100km per hour, though only for short bursts.
Their lightweight frames, long legs, and enlarged nasal passages allow them to take in more oxygen during a chase. Unlike lions or leopards, cheetahs do not have strong muscles for fighting. Instead, they rely on stealth and quick acceleration to capture prey.
Cheetahs are also solitary. This cheetah was alone, and being unaware of its surroundings, was also vulnerable. The hyena continued to close in on the cheetah.
Cheetah senses hyena’s presence
The cheetah finally sensed something and turned its head. The hyena, which had been moving with a quiet confidence, now stood with the posture of a kid who had been caught in the act of being naughty.
The cheetah sat bolt upright, its muscles taught and its gaze focused on the hyena. Its ears lifted up to attention.
Spotted hyenas will often harass cheetahs, hoping to steal kills. This cheetah was without any fresh meat in its possession. There was no reason for the hyena to ambush it, and the cheetah wasn’t about to give the hyena a reason to attack. In general, cheetahs will avoid unnecessary confrontations.
Caught in the act of sneaking up, hyena now walks away
Now that it had been caught ‘sneaking up’, the hyena seemed to lose interest in the cheetah. It turned around and with its back to the cheetah, walked off into the distance.
The cheetah was no longer daydreaming but watched the hyena as it wandered off.
Eventually, the cheetah was left alone again and peace had returned to the bushveld setting.
Once again, the beautiful predator scanned the horizon… This time, however, it was possibly making sure that there were no other hyenas in the vicinity.
The hyena hadn’t managed to outsmart it. However, its unexpected presence was a reminder of why it is important to remain vigilant in the wild. The encounter could have ended very differently.