Hyenas are among the most cunning creatures in the natural world. The clip below is a clear testament to this fact.
Hyenas are one of the formidable predators on the African savannah, renowned for their excellent teamwork within the pack. However, these animals are also famous for their cunning and intelligence.
(Video: Kruger).
The clip captured by a visitor at Kruger National Park (South Africa) vividly showcases the cunning nature of the hyena. The video shows a moment when a rock python has caught a small antelope and is using its muscular strength to tighten its grip to kill the prey before consuming it.
At the same time, a hyena lurking nearby stealthily approached the rock python from behind. Seizing the opportunity while the python was focused on squeezing its prey, the hyena quickly rushed in and pulled the antelope out of the python’s grasp, then swiftly ran off with the “spoils.”
In the end, the hyena secured a meal without the effort of hunting, while the rock python seemed bewildered at losing its meal right at its mouth.
Not only do hyenas target rock pythons, but they also boldly surround and harass lions, stealing prey from the “lords of the savannah.”
Hyena stealing from rock python.
Like other python species, the rock python is a non-venomous reptile, with adult sizes reaching nearly 4 meters and weighing between 44 to 55 kilograms. The rock python kills its prey by constricting, causing suffocation or broken bones that lead to death. It is considered the largest snake species in Africa.
The rock python is very aggressive, ready to attack and consume animals larger than itself, such as antelopes or crocodiles. It has even been known to attack humans, with recorded instances of this species preying on children. Some tribes in African countries refer to the rock python as the “man-eating python.”
