This hyena just couldn’t let sleeping dogs lie, and it paid the price as a result. Trying to sneak into a competing predator’s area seems like a poor idea at the best of times, but this hyena decided to give it a shot.
Jaco Joubert caught the sighting on camera in the MalaMala Game Reserve, and sent the footage to Latest Sightings. The wild dogs weren’t particularly happy about the hyena’s intrusion, and they let it know.
Things could have gone worse for the hyena, as the wild dog that took offence at its presence wasn’t seriously trying to hurt it, but they still gave it a sudden shock.
A Day Out For The Pack
It looked like a large number of wild dog adults had gone out for a little adventure during the day. It was likely they were stretching their legs while looking for likely prey to hunt, but they’d gotten distracted by a relaxing river bed, and they were in no hurry to leave.
Despite their apparent lethargy, wild dogs have adapted to be fast long distance runners, meaning they’d be more than capable of moving quickly once they found themselves a purpose to do so.
Enter The Intruder
One of them was about to showcase that potential for sudden acceleration, when an intruder approached the pack. Most of the dogs had decided to have a relaxing lie down on the riverbed after getting some exercise.
While they enjoyed a nap, a hyena approached slowly, looking incredibly large in comparison to the dogs. As a direct competitor, the hyena would prey on the same animals as the dogs, and that means they do not tend to get along and this one meant trouble.
Despite this natural rivalry, the wild dogs didn’t seem too alarmed by the presence of the hyena in their midst. Except for one, which was very unhappy about it.
Let The Games Begin
Like the rest of the pack, this dog watched the hyena slowly jog closer and closer to the center of the area they were relaxing in, before suddenly rising to all four paws and charging at the intruder. The wary hyena saw it coming and wisely turned tail, fleeing quickly.
Perhaps this dog was assigned to guard duty for the day, or the other dogs did not consider this intruder to be much of a threat. One hyena would lose against this many dogs in a fight anyway, so they could relax a few moments longer.
The scared hyena took shelter in the shadow of a MalaMala safari vehicle, where it cowered for a few moments. Against a single dog the hyena had size on its side, but as soon as it stood its ground it would find itself facing more than one dog.
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Safe And Sound
The hyena seemed to think it was safe here, and even glanced up at the vehicle several times, as if for reassurance, before relaxing. It didn’t risk challenging the dogs again, however.
The hyena was brave to approach, but the dogs had won the game, and now they could frolic in the sand without fear of rival predators attacking them or their resources.
Given the critically endangered status of wild dogs, asserting themselves over competition that would steal their kills and prey is essential for their own survival.
