Predator VS Predator!

During the evening game drive, after leaving a mating pair of lions we decided to relocate the other Lion member of the Mapogo Coalition, that was most likely making his way toward an aging elephant carcass. Up until now we had seen Hooded and White-backed Vultures including two Cape Vultures. These were the first animals to appear on the scene. We had also waited very patiently(+- 20 minutes) two nights previously for Spotted Hyenas to slink towards the carcass and start feeding. But tonight was dramatic! As we approached the carcass Isaac (the tracker) started shaking the spotlight wildly and shouted "GO!" As we got closer two Spotted Hyenas were running speedily away from the carcass, and a smaller hyena was being followed very (too) closely by the lion we wanted to find! He sped up and caught the hyena. The growls from the lion and screams from the hyena were indescribable. Initially the lion grabbed the hyena by the scruff of the neck which allowed the hyena to grab the lion's muzzle, it looked like this juvenile hyena was going to get out of the tricky mess! The lion let go and we thought the hyena was off but the lion again persisted in eliminating competition from other predators at the elephant carcass. The lion ran this time grabbing the hyena almost under at the throat. With all the commotion both the bigger hyenas ran in to give the juvenile help and managed to distract the lion. The Hyena had to run for it's life. It tried by to no avail. This lightweight roughly 45kgs had put up a fight for fifteen minutes with a heavyweight lion roughly 210kgs and was on its last limbs. The lion caught it for the last time and administered a strangle bite to the neck of the tough hyena. Shortly, the fight ended. Strangely the lion continued to make sure the hyena was dead and continued to hold the strangle bite for another seventeen minutes. This sighting was my first of its kind, and Isaac said that after spending his entire life in the bush he had only ever see it happen twice before. The eternal enemies had met and fought, and this time the lion defended his carcass successfully.

Posted: Exeter Lodges by Ryan Archibald, Date: 13 October 2008

 
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