A lioness stealthily hides among the bushes, quietly approaching a brown hyena before launching an attack that sends the hyena fleeing.
Guide Jordan Davidson captured the encounter between the two carnivorous species during a tour with guests at the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in South Africa, as reported by Latest Sightings on February 1.
“On our morning drive in the Klein Karoo area of the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, we hoped to see lions walking before they found shade and rested,” Jordan recounted.
Later, a guide announced the sighting of a brown hyena and a young lioness watching it. As the tour group approached the location, they spotted the lioness lying in wait among the bushes. To the south, the brown hyena was sniffing around, walking and searching for food, completely unaware that the lioness was nearby.
After a while of watching, the lioness lunged, causing the brown hyena to hurriedly flee.
“The lioness was living alone, not with a pride. Meanwhile, the brown hyena lives in groups but searches for food alone. Brown hyenas are mysterious creatures that are rarely seen wandering outside during the day. We were fortunate that the weather was cold and overcast that morning, allowing the hyena to stay out longer,” Jordan noted.
After a moment of observation, the lioness lunged, causing the brown hyena to flee in haste. “The lioness charged, but we were surprised to see that it did not kill its opponent. However, the lioness certainly instilled fear in the hyena,” Jordan remarked.
Jordan speculated that the lioness might have just wanted to play, with the strange sounds of the hyena causing her to hesitate, or perhaps the hyena’s long fur helped it escape the lioness’s claws, leaving the attacker confused. “In any case, it was a spectacular sight. I had waited many years to witness such a confrontation,” he shared.
The brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea) lives in Africa and is one of the rarest hyena species. Being nocturnal helps them avoid the heat. Brown hyenas primarily feed on carrion but will also eat rodents, eggs, insects, and some small animals.
