This incredible sighting was witnessed by the Biyamiti Bridge in the Kruger National Park.
The incredible sighting happened quite by chance, after the spectators had stopped to film a hippo by the river. Soon after, a pack of wild dogs entered the area, having made a kill.
A hyena in the area noticed the kill, and took the opportunity to try to steal a free meal.
Wild dogs confront hyena
This pack of wild dogs was a particularly large pack. While the hyena was not alone, and was one of a pair in the vicinity, there was too much wild dog presence in the area for its attempt to steal from the dogs to be successful.
These dogs weren’t about to take the loss of their meal lightly!
The pack proved to be exceptionally vigilant and communicative, and presenting a united front, confronted the hyenas.
The area was abuzz with energy as the animals surrounded the hyenas, and made a beeline for their stolen kill.
For wild dogs it is ‘all for one and one for all’, and with the strength of the wild dog in the pack, they formed a formidable force against the hyenas.
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The wild dog is a textbook example of the power of cooperation in nature. Their tight-knit social structure and unwavering teamwork make them one of the most efficient predators in the animal kingdom.
Hyena vs wild dog: The showdown begins
Having cornered the guilty hyena, they collectively approached the opportunistic scavenger, showing forth energy, teamwork and determination.
They were nimble and fierce in their targeted approach, and it wasn’t long before they managed to take their meal back. The hyena soon disappeared from sight and the wild dogs enjoyed a feeding frenzy, tearing their prey apart in their typical style of feeding.
Hyenas are stronger than wild dogs and so if the hyenas had outnumbered or overpowered the dogs, the dogs might have abandoned the kill. If they perceive a risk of injury when their prey is stolen, they will let it pass, and regroup and hunt again.
A typical display of hyena behaviour
It is not unusual for hyenas to try to steal a kill from wild dogs as this one did. Hyenas are bold scavengers and are known to follow wild dogs to steal kills. They use their size and power to take over.
Hyenas have stronger jaws, bulkier builds, and greater strength than wild dogs. They often operate in large clans, which can be as big as 10 to 20 individuals. When this is the instance, they will overwhelm smaller wild dog packs.
However, in this moment, there were just two of them, and the odds stood in the wild dogs’ favour.
It is always helpful when witnessing such a spectacular wildlife sighting to do some research into the animal’s behaviour to better understand the interactions which have taken place.
These signature behaviours are what make each species so special, and placing a sighting in context makes it all the more incredible.