All is not always fair in the bushveld, as was evidenced by this scene that unfolded.
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And it all began with a pair of hyenas that had believed they would be left in peace to enjoy the spoils of their kill.
Hyena Pair Feast On Impala Kill
The shadows of dusk set the mood for this thrilling ambush. A pair of hyenas successfully captured and killed an impala ram.
Often mistaken as scavengers, hyenas actually hunt and kill up to 90% of their own meals, more than even lions.
Spotted hyenas are skilled pack hunters, successfully bringing down prey like wildebeest and zebra. In fact, they often kill more of their own prey than even lions do!
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This duo anticipated feasting on the large impala carcass.
Hyenas Gorge Themselves On Fresh Meat
They stood alongside one another, heads down, as they devoured the fresh meat.
Hyenas have one of the strongest bite forces among mammals. Their bite is strong enough to crush bones, which helps them extract nutrients from carcasses.
Something Disturbs Hyenas’ Peace
The only indication that something was up was when their heads suddenly lifted. They could detect something in the distance and stood as sentinels to alert.
Hyenas, particularly spotted hyenas, have exceptionally sensitive hearing. They can detect sounds from several kilometres away, which is especially useful in locating prey, other clan members, or threats.
In this instance, they detected the presence of a leopard, which was lying in wait for an opportune moment.
Leopard Launches Ambush, Scattering Hyenas
The hyenas scattered in all directions, startled into retreat.
The impala carcass was left lying on the ground; a grisly reminder of the earlier kill. However, with the same speed the rest of the scene had unfolded, the leopard bounded forwards, closing in on the impala carcass.
The hyenas were now nowhere to be seen. They weren’t taking any chances on hanging around.
Securing the carcass in its jaws, the leopard took the role of the scavenger in this extraordinary sighting.
Leopard Sprints Away With Stolen Kill
It picked up the impala with such great speed that it was hard to make out its head from its tail. In a flash of lightning, it disappeared from view. It had scored a free meal, and it had successfully scared away two hyenas without having to even lift a paw.
Leopards are one of the strongest big cats, able to carry prey that is up to three times their own body weight. This leopard didn’t struggle carrying the impala away, while maintaining lightning speed.
This incredible sighting was a reminder that in the bushveld, anything is possible, and the unexpected can happen in a moment.
Incidentally, leopards and hyenas often come into conflict. It’s not just leopards that steal from hyenas. Hyenas have been known to try to steal fresh kills from leopards! If the leopard is outnumbered by hyenas, often the hyenas will be successful in their attempts.