Field guide Chene Wales-Baillie witnessed the incident and sent her video and story to Latest Sightings. She filmed it while doing a game drive for Nkorho Bush Lodge in the Northern Sabi Sands.
Leopard Reported
Chene told Latest Sightings that she responded to a report of a leopard sighting. As she made her way there, she learned that a young female leopard named Tiyani had a fresh kill up a tree.
Second Leopard
As she and her guests arrived, so did a second young leopard. Presumably, the new arrival had picked up the scent of the impala kill stashed up the tree.
Tiyani had also noticed the other cat and snarled a warning not to come closer.
Hyena Arrives
A few moments later, a spotted hyena arrived. Possibly cautious of the leopard on the ground, it stayed in the shadows.
Staring Contest
Meanwhile, the two leopards engaged in a staring contest. While Tiyani snarled menacingly, the other cat considered her options from below.
It looked like the second leopard decided that the potential meal was not worth the risk when she slunk off into the darkness.
Second Hyena Arrives
By now, the hyena had been joined by one of its clanmates. Unable to climb trees, there was little the pair could do but wait at the foot of the tree.
Leopard Returns
At this point, Chene spotted the other leopard sitting nearby. Moments later, it once again approached, making its way to the base of the tree. With that, the two hyenas retreated.
Seconds later, she jumped up the tree trunk, intent on getting a share of the kill for herself.
Boldly, she rose onto the branch where Tiyani stood guard over her kill.
Standoff
A standoff ensued. While Tiyani tried to warn her off, the other leopard inched closer to the carcass.
Eventually, driven by hunger, the newcomer lunged for the kill, grabbing it in her jaws while holding onto the tree tightly.
A tug-of-war followed, with both leopards refusing to let go. Eventually, the flesh tore, leaving the second leopard with a mouthful of flesh for her efforts.
Dropped
Unfortunately, she dropped her morsel. Having tasted flesh, however, she was emboldened to go for more.
Moments later, she launched her assault, slashing at Tiyani and forcing her to defend herself.
In the ensuing battle, Tiyani managed to knock the other leopard from the tree, but in the process, dropped her kill too.
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Opportunists Rewarded
According to Chene, the leopard fell right onto the hyenas, and in her fright, ran away.
Ever the opportunists, the hyenas quickly grabbed the kill and made off with their bounty.
As for poor Tiyani, all she could do was look down in disgust as her dinner disappeared into the darkness.
Summing up the situation, Chene said, “At the end, neither of the leopards had a meal, and the leopard up the tree (Tiyani), looked a bit disappointed indeed.
“It was priceless to see the hyena walk away with a free meal as if it had worked so hard for it! You can hear all my thoughts and emotions in my crazy commentary haha…”
Crazy commentary or not, we can all agree that it was a truly special sighting that Chene shared.