The hyena had gathered around a dead kudu which they had pulled out of the water of the dam, and were scavenging from its carcass when the hippo arrived on the scene.
Hippo makes a stand and defends his turf
This hippo might have been outnumbered but he was definitely not intimidated. He had something in his favour… his large teeth! He wasn’t afraid to show these off for size, making sure the hyenas knew that this was his territory.
Although hyenas are bold scavengers and skilled hunters, they will rarely engage with live hippos. These ones kept their distance from the hippo, but continued to feast on the kudu carcass, even as the hippo walked closer to them.
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Adult hippos are simply too large, aggressive, and well-armed for hyenas to consider as potential prey. A hippo’s massive size and powerful jaws can crush a hyena with a single bite! Even lions tend to avoid direct confrontations with healthy adult hippos, and hyenas are no exception.
Hippo edges closer to hyenas
This hippo refused to be passive around the hyenas, as he continued to edge towards the four scavengers as they fed on the kudu in a feeding frenzy.
Despite being herbivores, hippos are highly territorial and unpredictable. If a hyena gets too close to a pod or appears threatening, especially around calves, hippos may chase or even attack.
Their aggression is not limited to water, as this one showed. They can charge at surprising speeds on land too. Hyenas know better than to provoke such a powerful animal without a serious advantage.
The hippo walked right up to where the dead kudu lay on the shore. The hyenas were now just steps away. If they were nervous, they did not show it.
Hyenas and hippos occupy very different ecological niches. Hyenas are nocturnal predators and scavengers that roam widely in search of food. Hippos, on the other hand, spend most of their day submerged in water and graze on grass at night.
Their interaction is mostly limited to overlapping territory, where carcasses or water sources bring them into contact.
This kudu carcass had provided the catalyst for an incredible sighting.
In a breathtaking display of dominance, the hippo, now much closer to the hyenas, opened its mouth wide. Its colossal teeth were on display, and these could be seen, even from a distance.
The most visible and fearsome teeth in a hippo’s mouth are the canines and incisors. These front teeth can grow impressively long.
Canines can reach up to 50cm long, and incisors up to 40cm long. While they look like fangs, they’re not used for feeding. Instead, males use them for fighting over territory and mates, slashing at rivals with deadly force.
Hippos are highly terrotorial, and these hyenas had ventured a little too close to the water for the hippo’s liking.
The hyenas grew skittish for a moment, hearing something in the distance. One of them went off to inspect, while the others continued to feed. None of them dared to disturb or confront the hippo.
The hippo had shown them who was boss and they were not about to argue.