For the most part, hyenas don’t mess with male lions. However, when this large clan found a young male feeding, they tried to pull a cheeky stunt.
Mike Kirkman submitted this gripping footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed the action in South Africa’s MalaMala Game Reserve.
Grisly sighting
As we join Mike at the sighting, we’re met with a grisly sight. A young male lion has pulled down a Cape buffalo and has begun feeding.
However, as we soon realise, the buffalo is not yet dead, as it thrashes its head and bellows in pain. With a large hole in its side, it is safe to assume the injury has somehow incapacitated the bull.
Sound attracts unwelcome attention
Realising that sound attracts attention, predators generally try prevent it by asphyxiating their prey with a throat grip.
However, by not doing so, this young male has made a critical error. As he feeds, a mortal enemy appears in the background: a spotted hyena.
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Call to action
Soon, more arrive, and as they do, they start emitting their high-pitched whooping call. This vocalisation serves to call for support, to hype the clan for action, and to intimidate their foe.
Accordingly, it doesn’t take long before more arrive. However, upon seeing the lion, they are initially cautious.
But as more reinforcements arrive, they start closing in from behind. Sensing their presence, the lion whips his tail in anger.
Tempting target
However, instead of deterring the scavengers, the lion’s tail presents a tempting target. Almost on tiptoes, individuals come within sniffing distance.
When the lion doesn’t respond, two hyenas raise the stakes. They simultaneously open their jaws to bite their rival’s tail.
Subsequently, it is apparent that these hyenas are unfamiliar with the warning not to pull the tail of the tiger, or lion, as the case may be.
Unsurprisingly, the lion reacts immediately, spinning around to face his cheeky adversaries.
The hyenas, however, easily evade his vicious lunge.
As they do, their cackling call seems to mock the lion.
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Rage to uncertainty
Desperate to restore his dignity, the lion charges at the hyenas, sending them scattering in all directions.
Only now does he seem to realise how heavily outnumbered he is. His expression transforms from rage to uncertainty.
Briefly, he returns to the kill, but as reality sets in, he has to face the facts. Consequently, the young male surrenders and leaves the scene.
Short-lived victory
With their enemy on the run, the clan piles in to enjoy the spoils of their victory.
As they do, a new sound reverberates across the veld…
This time, it is the hyenas who must take notice. The sound chills the blood of every hyena within hearing distance.
Incredibly, despite their recent victory, the clan abandons the carcass and runs for their lives.
Seconds later, a male lion runs into view. Like the hyenas before him, the commotion attracted him. Confident and ready to fight, he runs in to steal the show and restore dignity to his kind.
