Interactions between predators are usually tense affairs. As these animals typically hunt the same prey, and draw from the same resources, they are direct competitors that take the mere presence of the other as some kind of offence.
In this case not only did the hyenas spy an opportunity to rid themselves of a competitor, but this leopard also had a cub which would make a very nice snack for them, if only they could reach it stashed high up in its tree.
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Wendy Ronal caught the entire event on camera at the Sabi Sabi Game Reserve, and sent the footage in to Latest Sightings. It was a very stressful time for the leopard as it tried to protect both itself and its young cub against their attackers.
Safely Stashed In The High Ground
Wendy’s footage was dramatic from the very beginning, with the hyenas milling around the base of a tall tree, effectively trapping the leopard and her cub in the high branches.
Although it wasn’t safe from them to come down, hyenas aren’t as capable climbers as leopards which meant the big cats were safe as long as they stayed high enough in the tree that they were out of reach.
The leopard had taken her cub to the very highest branches and wedged it safely in a fork between them while she turned back to face the hyenas and try to intimidate them into leaving the area, without leaving the safety of the branches herself.
Posturing For Survival
In a one on one fight, the leopard would have a good chance of winning against a hyena, as they looked to be a similar size, maybe with the leopard having a slight advantage.
But against several members of a clan, the leopard wouldn’t last long if it got close enough for the fight to devolve into physical blows. Typically predators will avoid actually fighting as much as possible, because neither animal wins if they are unable to hunt due to their wounds.
Confrontations are usually limited to convincing the opponent that a fight wasn’t worth the effort or the risk, but in this case the hyenas had such an advantage in numbers, and the leopard cub would be such an easy meal, that they clearly thought it was very much worth it.
The leopard’s only real chance at making it out of this alive with its cub was to stay out of reach of the hyenas, and attempt to convince them that it wasn’t worth it for them to pursue the big cats due to the risk of them being injured.
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Living Another Day
The hyenas continued to mill about at the bottom of the tree looking up at their enemy that was so close, but just out of reach. They were confident in their own numbers and the leopard’s intimidation tactics clearly weren’t working well against them.
Despite this, there’s only so much time and energy they could waste on these two cats, and after only a few tense minutes they decided to move onto other things, leaving the leopard and her cub safely in the tree.
For the leopard’s, and those watching, it was a relief as it meant they were going to live another day, but it would definitely be a while before they felt safe enough to come down from their tree.