In the 1992 documentary “Eternal Enemies,” the world got an in-depth glimpse into the age-old battle between lions and spotted hyenas. Over thirty years later, the rivalry is as intense as ever.
Kobus Strauss submitted his footage of a lion defending its kill to Latest Sightings. He filmed it in South Africa’s Timbavati Nature Reserve.
Stolen bounty
As Kobus told Latest Sightings, the male lion in the image below had earlier stolen the remains of a buffalo from a clan of hyenas. As we join the action, the lion tucks into his stolen bounty.
Scavenging is certainly not beneath lions. In a world where might is right, Africa’s largest predator takes what he wants.
Hyenas not laughing
However, as he feeds, we can hear that he is not alone. In the background, we hear the loud whooping and cackling of the lion’s greatest foes: spotted hyenas.
Their constant harassment sees the lion feed with urgency. Although he is physically stronger than an individual hyena, they have strength in numbers.
The hyenas understandably rage after losing their meal. However, they are wary of the lion, initially keeping their distance.
Trying their luck
But when the lion continues gorging himself, the hyenas realise they need to act before there’s nothing left for them to eat. Consequently, an unseen hyena pulls at the carcass.
Predictably, this enrages the male. He digs his claws into the carcass and tenses his shoulders to stop the hyenas from stealing it.
Escalation
However, his adversaries grow more determined and confident. If he doesn’t act soon, they will take what remains of the buffalo.
Unsurprisingly, he decides that enough is enough. As the hyena continues pulling, the lion rises, his eyes blazing in fury.
Lunging forward, he raises a massive paw. Any hyena unfortunate to be hooked by its two-inch claws will be in serious trouble.
Slamming the paw into the ground, he throws his full body weight over the carcass. It’s as if he’s daring the scavengers to try move him.
Battle lost. War ongoing
Consequently, the hyena lets go of the carcass. As hungry as it is, it knows that a serious injury at this point would render any meal meaningless.
That said, the hyenas are not about to give up. They’ve likely faced similar situations before, and experience tells them that even the mighty male lion can become overwhelmed.
As it circles the lion, we see that its tail is held aloft. This is typical of excited hyenas, acting as a battle flag to their comrades.
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Unrelenting pressure
Subsequently, as the eternal enemies come eye-to-eye, we see what could be interpreted as self-doubt in the lion’s eyes. He, too, must weigh the benefits of continuing this stand-off.
Meanwhile, the hyenas continue their unrelenting verbal assault. Their calls are designed to hype one another up, while simultaneously stressing their foes. But, will the strategy pay dividends?
Signs of surrender
Faced with a growing chorus of hatred as the hyena numbers swell, the lion’s face transforms from defiance to resignation.
In his telling of the outcome, Kobus said, “They [the hyenas] did eventually manage to get a last few scraps back when he decided to leave after just a bit too much harassment.”
While he may have lost this battle, you can be sure he’ll be ready to continue the war.