Karlien Trumpelmann filmed an amazing, high-speed encounter between a hyena and a pack of wild dogs in the Kruger National Park.
She witnessed the encounter in the late afternoon on the S25 Road.
Pack of wild dogs catches an impala
Karlien explained that the pack, which consisted of around 20 wild dogs, had caught an impala. However, there were hyenas in the area and these tried to take off with their kill!
The dogs weren’t about to take the attack on their food lying down. What ensued was a high-speed confrontation and a memorable demonstration of wild dog teamwork.
Karlien watched as the dogs worked together to get back their meal. “They fought back,” she recalled.
Wild dogs are among the bushveld’s most determined predators, however, even they sometimes find themselves fighting to reclaim a meal as these ones did.
The dogs raced past the vehicle from which she was filming with their white-tipped tails high in the air. They had their focus on a hyena which was determined to steal their food.
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Dogs ‘swarm’ around hyena to reclaim meal
They swarmed around the spotted hyena in a frenzy. They weren’t about to lose their meal!
Losing a hard-earned meal can be costly for a pack of wild dogs. They are specialised hunters which can spend considerable energy pursuing prey.
Their hunts often involve several members of the pack working together, with individuals taking different positions during a chase. They can maintain impressive speeds for extended periods, wearing down prey through persistence rather than relying only on a short burst of acceleration.
Once a kill has been made, however, certain predators and scavengers may quickly appear, attracted by the smell and activity surrounding the carcass.
In this instance, the kill attracted some hyenas.
Spotted hyenas are particularly formidable competitors. As opportunists, they will readily attempt to steal food from other predators when circumstances favour them.
That is where a confrontation like this can become explosive.
While wild dogs are smaller individually, their greatest strength comes from numbers and coordination.
The strategic teamwork and close knit bonds of pack members was on full display here.
Members of the pack can surround or pursue a rival from different directions, making it difficult for a larger predator to stand its ground comfortably.
These ones swarmed around the hyena and bit at it to reclaim the carcass from their kill.
Their agility allowed them to dart forward and retreat rapidly, avoiding a direct confrontation while repeatedly pressuring the opponent.
Pack teamwork pays off
It would seem their persistence… and their teamwork, paid off.
After a scintillating, vicious encounter with the hyena, they managed to reclaim their food.
They then moved to a quieter area, still frenzied and visibly hungry, and with the same level of high energy, dug in for a feast.
Much blood was drawn in the battle for their food, however, in this moment, the wild dogs’ enthusiasm showed that it was all worth it!
Watch more predators take on one another
Food is high currency in the bushveld, as these two species demonstrated. We will keep you updated with more food-inspired battles through our WhatsApp updates group. Click here to join.
