The age-old feud betwen lions and hyenas played out graphically on the H4-1 between Skukuza and Lower Sabie, in the Kruger National Park.
Marissa Weide filmed the deadly encounter, which Latest Sightings shared on September 30,2024.
Watch the sighting:
What do they see?
At the beginning of the video, we see two lionesses crouching at the side of the road. They are intensely focussed on something in the long grass adjacent to them.
A lone hyena emerges
Moments later, a single hyena emerges from behind a bush. As it walks, it suddenly sees the lions and stops in its tracks.
Spring into action
The lionesses rise as one to take on the hyena. For its part, the hyena seems to realise it is too late to run, giving a feeble snarl as it backs up slightly
Nowhere to run
As the lions come closer, the hyena seems resigned to its fate. Seconds later, one of the lions raises a giant paw and swats the hyena to the ground.
The second lion joins
Because the hyena is now pinned to the ground, the second lion appears to go for its throat. If their prey is not killed instantly, lions subdue their prey by biting the throat and cutting off air.
A slow death
Because the suffocation method takes a while, it can be hard to watch. In the video, we occasionally see the hyena’s head, limbs and tail as it struggles.
Also, in the second image above, we see one of the lions now standing. If you watch the video, you’ll notice her scraping the ground with her hind legs.
In effect, this suggests that she is scent marking–a behaviour typically associated with declaring territorial dominance. And that includes over hyenas.
All hope is lost
Two male lions arrive, removing any doubt that the hyena’s fate is sealed. If it was obvious that lionesses don’t care for hyenas, it is tenfold the case when it comes to male lions.
My job here is done
As a result, notice above how one of the lionesses leaves the scene of the crime. She knows that the males will finish off the hyena.
And, males always assume dominance at kills. While we don’t know whether these males will feed on the hyena carcass, she is taking no chances.
A truly close-encounter
Additionally, in the final image, Marissa’s rearview mirror reveals just how close she was to the action.
Meanwhile, in the background, the two males inspect–if not maul–the unfortunate hyena.
Eternal enemies
Lions typically do not consider hyenas as prey. If anything, they share the mantle of apex predators on the plains of Africa.
Both species are highly sociable, living in large stable groups. This allows them to secure large territories and tackle prey much bigger than the individuals.
In effect, the only real advantage lions have is their physical size. They weigh between 130 and 190 kilograms. Hyenas, by comparison, weigh just 40 and 64 kg.
However, observers have frequently recorded hyenas stealing meals from smaller groups of lions, even killing them on occasion.
Its fate is sealed
In her comments, Marissa reveals the hyena’s ultimate fate: ‘The male lions arrived, and the lioness held onto the hyena’s jugular until she was satisfied.
In Marissa’s comments, we learn of the hyenas’ ultimate fate, “The male lions arrived, and the lioness held onto the hyena’s jugular until she was satisfied.
“Eventually, she moved on with the healthier male, leaving the hyena and the other male lion behind.” “Unbelievably, the hyena was still alive!
However, the ill male lion had already started slowly eating the hyena, leaving it no chance to escape.”
While one cannot help but feel for the hyena, this encounter grimly reminds us that, in Nature, survival belongs to the fittest.