Most predators tend to take a rather dim view on the presence of competitors in their midst. When catching prey is the source of their own survival, the potential for other animals to hunt that same prey is a serious problem.
For this reason, many hunters will avoid each other, or try to bluster and intimidate their way out of any encounters. Except this hyena, which instead decided to mosey through an entire pack of wild dogs.
This footage was submitted by Jaco Joubert from Mala Mala Game Reserve.
Watch Now:
Out For A Run
At the beginning of the footage the pack of wild dogs was loping along what appeared to be a dried up riverbed at a comfortable pace. They were out in numbers, and this was likely the entire pack moving along together.
They weren’t hunting anything, and there wasn’t any sign of prey in the area, so they were just using the riverbed like a highway to get from one point to another without needing to worry about difficult terrain.
With their bodies adapting to long distance running, these dogs would be able to cover some serious ground over such a flat surface as they moved from one area to another in search of prey.
Settled Down For The Day
Of course, running for long periods of time still uses energy, regardless of how the bodies of wild dogs have evolved to facilitate it. In the game of energy expended compared to calories eaten, these dogs would still need to take the opportunity to rest.
In the absence of any threats, the cool sand that made up the surface of the river bed made as good a place to relax and recuperate as any, and it was here that the hyena found them.
Perhaps it thought that the pack of dogs had been hunting and made a kill, and that was why it came to investigate, wandering into their midst and likely even following in their footsteps. Hyenas do sometimes keep an eye on other predators in case they have some food that can be stolen.
Acting Nonchalant
The hyena was clearly very aware that it might not be making the smartest decision, as it kept its head low and was very careful not to acknowledge the presence of the dogs at all. Maybe it thought if it didn’t look at them they wouldn’t react to it.
The hyena kept its head down sniffing at the floor as it attempted to infiltrate the lines of the wild dogs, looking as though it was trying to remain casual so they wouldn’t perceive it as a threat.
Clearly hyenas are not very accomplished when it comes to stealth, because this one was just completely out in the open, and the wild dogs immediately took an issue with its presence.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
Not A Part Of The Pack
The hyena might have been trying to make friends, or at the very least not appear threatening, but hyenas and wild dogs are direct competitors with each other, which makes the mere existence of the hyena essentially an existential threat to the dogs.
The dogs reacted almost instantly to the hyena’s intrusion, and snapping at its back and hind legs they drove it to cower next to one of the safari vehicles.
It appeared that these two animals wouldn’t be friends after all. The hyena’s behavior was slightly strange, but it made for an interesting and quirky sighting, and gave the onlookers the chance to see wild dogs in action.