Caught in the Spotlight
Madelein Alexander was exploring the region surrounding Satara Rest Camp in Kruger National Park when she captured a rare nighttime encounter. Her flashlight beam caught a jackal sprinting along a fence, clearly spooked, with a hyena hot on its heels!
Moments later, the duo doubled back in the opposite direction, still at full speed. The chase lasted only moments but left everyone wondering: why would a hyena waste its energy chasing a jackal?
An Unlikely Rivalry
Although they share the same ecosystem, hyenas and jackals are not typically direct competitors. Jackals are much smaller and more nimble, often taking the scraps left behind by larger predators or hunting small prey.
Hyenas, with their powerful jaws and pack mentality, rule the scavenger scene, but are also hunters. Conflict can break out between these two species, as it does with many different animals in the bush, when food is scarce or territories overlap.
A hyena may chase off a jackal to assert its dominance, protect its den, or prevent the jackal from getting access to a potential food source.
Nightlife in the Bush
Encounters like this are far more likely to happen after dark. Both hyenas and jackals are primarily nocturnal, and use the cover of night to scavenge, hunt, and navigate the bush.
Night drives often reveal this whole hidden world of activity, with behaviours that differ dramatically from what one might see during the day. In the darkness, every sound is amplified, and every movement matters.
In this case, what could have been a minor interaction was amplified into a high-stakes drama.
More Than Just a Chase
While the video doesn’t show the full context, it’s possible that a carcass or food source was just out of frame. Jackals are notorious for sneaking in for a bite when others aren’t looking, and despite their reputation as scavengers, hyenas can be highly territorial.
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It’s also possible that the jackal got a little too close to a den site, prompting the hyena to act defensively. While Hyenas don’t typically hunt jackals, they have been known to kill and eat them when competing for a food source or defending a territory.
Whatever the reason for the chase, it was real, and thrilling.
Smaller But Smarter?
Despite their size disadvantage, jackals are incredibly clever and agile. They’ve been seen countless times outwitting larger predators by using their speed and sharp instincts.
In this case, the jackal managed to escape the situation unscathed. The chase went on for minutes until the hyena couldn’t keep up anymore.
The Jackal doubled back and finally disappeared into the bush, successfully escaping into the cover of the night.
Moments like these are a testament to the constant chess game that plays out in the African wilderness, where every animal is both predator and potential prey. Even in brief encounters, nature puts on an unforgettable show.
This quick dash through the dark reveals just how much tension and strategy exist between even the smallest players on the savannah.
