A spotted hyena escaped death when its brave clanmates rescued it from the jaws of a male lion.
Maddie Lowe sent this video displaying astonishing unity to Latest Sightings, where it was posted on August 29, 2023.
Returning to the kill
While visiting Arathusa Game Lodge, Maddie was on a game drive, accompanied by guide Witness Mathebula. During their outing, they checked if any lions were feeding on a carcass found earlier in their stay.
However, when they returned they found that no lions were visible. Instead, a clan of hyenas were feeding, while some vultures lurked nearby.
Watch the sighting:
What was that noise?
As we watch the video, we hear the ripping of flesh and crunching of bones as the hyenas feast. Then, faintly, we hear a low moan coming from the distance.
The hyenas hear it too, and some of the clan start looking to the right, hoping to locate the source of the noise.
Whether greedy or oblivious to the change in the atmosphere, several hyenas continue feeding.
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Time to take flight
But for others, including the vultures standing nearby, something is not right. Moments later, the vultures take to the sky and some of the hyenas appear increasingly uncomfortable.
And we soon find out why, when from the right, a young male lion arrives. It charges right at the feeding hyenas!
Run for your lives
Finally, the feeding hyenas realise that danger is imminent. They scatter in all directions with the lion getting ever closer.
While most flee away from the camera, the two hyenas closest to the camera flee right past Maddie’s seat in the safari vehicle.
Gotcha!
Above, we see the lion raising its front right paw moments before swatting the unfortunate hyena on the rump. As it does so, the hyena’s flight ends with the lion somersaulting over it while bringing it down.
Freedom?
For a moment, it looks like the lions’ momentum in the fall might be the hyenas’ saving grace. Briefly, they are separated and the lion scrambles to recover the stunned hyena.
Not so fast…
Again, the hyena’s reactions are too slow to save it. And this time, the lion takes no chances as it slams the hyena to the ground. With its catch now secure, the lion clamps its jaws around the back of the hyena’s neck.
Meanwhile, the rest of the hyena clan has stopped running. In fact, some of them have come back to check on their relative.
Wait! We can take this guy!
Then, the hyenas do something some wouldn’t expect of these so-called ‘cowardly scavengers’. Realising their numerical superiority, they begin to gang up on the lion.
Then, with the lions’ jaws preoccupied, the smart hyenas begin attacking its hindquarters.
Scattering when the lion turns to face them…
Not giving up on our friend
But, they are not done yet. In greater numbers now, the hyenas continue to mob the distracted lion.
Darting in, they deliver painful bites to the lions’ flanks. As the pressure mounts, the lion has no choice but to release its prey.
Everyone accounted for
With their compatriot free, the hyenas scatter while keeping a wary eye on their enemy. Their victorious cackling rings in the air.
I concede defeat
The lion, realising it is overwhelmed, is left to rue a missed opportunity to harm its one enemy on the savannah.
Apex enemies
In this part of Africa, lions and hyenas are the apex predators. Both are social animals that use intelligence and numbers to get their way.
While hyenas are no match for a lion individually, collectively they can compete successfully against groups of females and younger males.
Had this been a mature male, however, the outcome might not have been as fortunate for the hyena.