Cheetahs on a Kill prove no match for ferocious hyenas


Cheetahs Surrender Kill to Pack of Hungry Hyenas

Three cheetah (below) had just killed an impala and were starting to feed as we arrived on the scene in South Africa's Kruger National Park. This was a rare sighting and a first for me.

But hardly had we settled down to watch the cheetah enjoy the fruits of their labour than one - then another - hyena materialised like unwelcome ghosts from the bush.

cheetahs on kill

Within seconds there were half a dozen - too many for the mild-mannered cheetah to confront, so they reluctantly retreated (below).

cheetah watches as hyena approach cheetahs watch as hyena approach

Then the frenzy began (below). Snapping, snarling and yelping, the hyenas ripped the impala apart, swallowing huge chunks of flesh and bone. Those that managed to tear away portions too big to swallow scurried away with their loot, before it was snatched away.

hyena with skin of impala
hyenas tear into impala hyena with bloody face
hyena runs off with piece of impala hyenas tear off pieces of impala
Within minutes it was over - nothing left but some bloodied grass stems.

As for the cheetahs - well, they are extremely successful hunters, catching half the prey they chase.

They are also fairly placid and prefer to retreat from a kill when confronted by hyena, particularly as an injury would hamper their ability to hunt. Better simply to leave and try again later.

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