A massive male lion went straight for a ‘free lunch’ when he spotted a vulnerable hyena cub alongside the road, in a sighting witnessed by Johan Seekles in the Kruger National Park.
The defenseless cub stood no chance against the large lion, and had no back-up to assist as the stealthy predator closed in.
King of the Jungle makes grand appearance
This lion moved through the bushveld with all the confidence on would expect the King of the Jungle to have. His gait was steady and his focus as that of an eagle’s. He was eyeing something in the distance and it would soon become apparent what.
Without warning, his walk became a run, as he made his way into the road, spurred on by something which, as the vehicle moved closer, appeared to be a small animal.
Baby hyena becomes easy prey
The animal lay at the side of the road, appearing helpless. It did nothing to evade the charging lion. It seemed this male lion had closed in on a free meal and he took the opportunity with great zeal.
Only when the lion lifted his trophy into the air, his jaws clenched around its neck, did it become apparent he had found an abandoned hyena cub.
The animal offered no resistance and the sight of the large predator walking off with the tiny, lifeless body was heartbreaking.
A baby hyena is called a cub, and spotted hyena cubs are born with a solid black coat. Their signature spots appear when they are just a few weeks old.
Judging from this one’s colour, it was fairly young.
Lion parades prey in full view of spectators
With the prey in its firm grip, the lion paraded in full view of the spectators. He walked quite confidently across the road. He seemed a fairly old lion, and no doubt commanded respect wherever he went.
Johan watched as the lion disappeared into the thicket at the side of the road. The hyena cub hung from its jaws.
There was no retaliation from any nearby hyenas, emphasising the tragedy of this tiny life lost without a fight.
Hyena cubs are usually born into litters of two to three young. The cubs are highly competitive and may push their siblings out of the nest or away from their mother to gain more resources. This one was alone for unknown reasons.
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Furthermore, female hyenas face significant challenges during childbirth. The birth canal is extremely narrow, making the process both dangerous and often fatal. First-time mothers are especially at risk, with many not surviving their initial birthing experience.
The poignant loss was a reminder of how fragile life in the bushveld can be during those first tentative weeks after birth. The entire kill seemed not to be fair game, in terms of the cub’s diminutive size, pitted against the lion’s phenomenal strength.
While this young life was lost, however, hyenas continue to thrive in the wild, showcasing their resilience as a species.