Watch the Sighting:
This exciting encounter occurred in the breathtaking Klein Karoo within Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. This location is diverse in flora and fauna due to its clash of fynbos and succulent biomes, and is a treasure trove of wildlife!
Senior trails guide Jordan Davidson took his guests out early that morning in hopes of catching some active lions before the heat of the day caused them to retire. What they were about to experience, however, was even more exciting than they could have ever imagined!
Arriving on the Scene
When a nearby guide called about a brown hyena being stalked by a lioness, Jordan knew he had to act fast! He booked it over to the sight, hoping his group would not miss any of the action.
As they arrived at the sight, the group quickly spotted the female lion stalking through the khanna bushes along an eroded channel, her muscles were coiled like a spring. They traced her path south, and soon spotted the oblivious hyena, walking slowly and completely engaged in its foraging.
Brown hyenas live in packs but will often venture away from their pack to forage alone or in smaller groups. Like lions, they tend to remain lazy during daylight hours, but luckily for Jordan and his group, the cloud cover was thicker that morning, allowing for cooler temperatures and more active animals.
Tension Builds
Slowly, the lioness inched closer. Jordan and his group hushed their voices as they watched the scene unfold with elevated heart rates.
Jordan was able to pull his vehicle up near where the hyena was foraging. “I was extremely interested in seeing how the hyena was going to defend itself against a lion whose strength is incredible”.
The Attack is Launched
Finally, the lioness was within only a few meters of the hyena. It raised its head and noticed the threat — but it was too late, the lioness was already charging ahead at full speed!
The hyena tried to bolt, but the female lion caught up to it in no time! She loosely tried to grab hold of its back legs, but with no success.
Seconds later, she tried again, but the hyena let out a bizarre set of screeches that seemed to throw her off her game. Confused by the sounds and possibly deterred by the hyena’s thick fur, the lioness faltered long enough for her prey to escape!
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After putting distance between itself and the lioness, the hyena eventually left the scene, happy to have been spared its life. The lioness could have easily taken out the hyena, but it seemed that she cared more about giving it a good scare off of her turf.
Jordan and his guests couldn’t believe their eyes, it was a once-in-a-lifetime encounter and a reminder of how unpredictable and raw life in the wild can be.
Predators at Odds
Lions and hyenas have a brutal relationship, engaging in one of the longest rivalries in history. With both species being apex predators and carnivores, they are often forced to confront each other to eliminate the competition.
In some encounters, like the one sighted by Jordan, one of the two animals will invest energy into scaring its rival away from its hunting turf. This hyena was lucky to leave with its life, given that it didn’t have any pack members nearby to protect it.