Predators can put in a considerable amount of effort during their hunts, only to successfully bring down their prey and not even get to enjoy the spoils of it all.
There are always other hungry predators and scavengers looking to score easy meals, and animals like this jackal have to be careful about guarding their kills.
Tony Sirma spotted this tense competition at the Masai Mara National Reserve, and sent the footage to Latest Sightings. It’s difficult enough defending a carcass against a flock of birds, let alone bigger predators.
Joining The Queue
The jackal was trying to eat as much of the gazelle as it could as quickly as it could. It knew that it only had a limited time with the carcass, and it would need to be quick if it wanted to fill its belly.
The vultures were growing in number as they readied themselves for when the jackal moved on, but if anything larger, like a hyena or lion came sniffing around then the jackal wouldn’t be able to contend.
Even if the vultures were able to build up enough numbers they might have been able to force the jackal off the carcass and then descend upon it themselves.
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Forced To Wait Their Turn
The jackal was also very aware that the vultures could do this, and it knew that it couldn’t let the flock of vultures grow to that size. It had to take a gamble and leave the gazelle unattended and vulnerable to ensure they kept their distance.
A quick charge scattered the vultures and forced several of them to take to the skies to avoid the angry canine, but it didn’t take long before they were back and queuing again, edging closer and closer.
This meant the jackal could eat as much as possible before needing to leave, or it could devote more time to trying to dissuade the vultures more permanently.
Running Out Of Options
With the numbers of hungry birds rising rapidly, the jackal’s position was starting to look increasingly tenuous. It couldn’t keep leaving the carcass unguarded with so many thieves in the area.
While it charged the huge group of vultures again, it quickly returned to the gazelle so it could eke out the last few mouthfuls before the vultures grew so numerous they could force it off the food.
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A Sudden Contender Enters The Ring
When the hyena did come, it came out of nowhere. Loping comfortably into the frame it scattered the vultures more effectively than the jackal had managed to do, and just its presence was enough to persuade the jackal that fighting wasn’t worth it.
Helpless, the jackal could only join the vultures, watching in dismay as the hyena lifted the whole gazelle carcass in its mouth and started running away with it. Warding off the jackal and vultures wasn’t worth it, when they could just be removed from the situation.
Competition is fierce in the wild, and a free meal is a coveted event, but there has to be a winner. The jackal might not have eaten its fill but it was done either way, and the hyena was victorious in this game of scavengers.
