Catching sight of a predator on safari can be an incredibly exciting experience. So it was even better for Daniel van der Berg when he spotted not only a clan of hyenas, but also a pack of wild dogs fighting with them.
It was a competitive conflict between the two as they are animals that hunt similar prey, meaning the success of one hampers the survival of the other. This could only have ended in some kind of fight.
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Opening Strike
For a clan of hyenas to come across a pack of wild dogs like this could be down to nothing more than simple bad luck. Running into mortal enemies by chance tends to be a good way to spoil a day.
It could also have been by design on the hyena’s part, as there have been sightings of them following in the tracks of other predators in the hope that they might manage to steal a meal.
If the hyena clan had instigated the conflict, then they’d quickly lost the upper hand as a wild dog attacked and chased one immediately into the road, right next to Daniel’s vehicle.
Reinforcements Arrive
While the opening strike was a single wild dog chasing one lone hyena into the road, groups of hyenas and wild dogs were waiting in the wings to provide support to one another when the battle truly began.
The hyena tentatively went back into the trees at the side of the road and the dogs promptly rebuffed it again, but then more members of the hyena clan quickly arrived until five hyenas stood facing off against the pack.
While individual hyenas might roughly match wild dogs in size, they do have a slight advantage and if their numbers grew too large then the wild dogs might have had to abandon the area.
The Rout
Exactly what had the hyenas so interested in this patch of land wasn’t clear, but it was likely that the dogs had successfully brought down some prey and the hyenas were milling around the edges of the site to try and steal some scraps.
There are few other reasons that a predator or scavenger might risk direct conflict with another. If these dogs did have a meal sequestered among the trees at the side of the road, then they were refusing to share it.
En masse the dogs charged at the hyenas, pouring from between the trees and revealing that while the hyenas might have been slightly larger, they were at a significant disadvantage in terms of numbers. With no chance at a fight, the hyenas turned tail and ran.
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Behind Enemy Lines
Most of the hyenas instantly retreated to the road where the cars offered enough cover for them to escape. One scheming hyaenidae had found itself hidden in the trees and behind the pack of wild dogs.
This advantage was short lived as the dogs realized their mistake and doubled back to correct it. Just like the others, this hyena soon found itself hurrying back towards the safety of the road.
Seeing animals up so close and personal makes for an extra special experience, but it’s important to remember that animals under duress, like these hyenas, can be unpredictable. Make sure all vehicle doors and windows are secured while on safari.