A leopard and a spotted hyena got caught up in a tug of war in this riveting sighting filmed in the Sabi Sands.
The two species battled it out, each trying to grab ahold of an impala carcass with the hope of a free meal.
The incredible moment began when the leopard noticed some vultures circling in the sky. As scavengers, vultures often congregate where a kill has been made.
In the game reserve, if you see vultures circling in the sky overhead, it is often a telltale sign that there is a carcass on the ground below. Sometimes this is a fresh kill and the predators will still be feeding from it.
In this instance, the leopard was in a tree when it saw the vultures descend at high speed. The leopard knew this meant one thing… that there was a kill in the vicinity!
It came down the tree in a hurry, hoping to cash in on the carcass. However, a spotted hyena had the same idea.
The impala carcass took centre stage for both animals, and they each put on a mighty display of aggression and determination.
Leopard and hyena battle it out for impala carcass
Leopards and hyenas have different strengths. Hyenas have one of the strongest bite forces in the animal kingdom, reaching up to 1 100 pounds per square inch (PSI). This bite force is powerful enough to crush even bone with ease.
In contrast, leopards possess a strong but more precision-focused bite. Rather than relying on brute strength, leopards typically target the neck of their prey, using a quick, silent kill to bring down animals effectively.
This spotted hyena used its powerful bite to hold onto the impala kill. Having the carcass in its mouth, it wasn’t about to relent and give up its trophy.
It tried to get away from the leopard, dragging the kill on the ground as it moved with the skulking gait typical of hyenas.
The leopard followed hot on its tail.
Usually, leopard will avoid direct confrontation with hyenas. However, this one was hungry and wasn’t about to let the opportune scavenger get away with the generous supply of meat.
The hyena was determined to have things go its way. However, the leopard soon caught up to the hyena and what ensued was a tug of war-style showdown.
The leopard pulled. The hyena pulled. A meal was on the cards and in nature, food is currency.
Leopard settles down with its share of the spoils
In the end, the leopard managed to get its fair share of food. The pesky hyena eventually disappeared from view, and the majestic creature settled into the grass beneath a tree to enjoy its spoils.
Leopards are opportunistic carnivores which hunt antelope, monkeys, birds, and even fish. They do occasionally scavenge kills, but they are primarily skilled hunters which prefer to catch their own prey.
However, if an opportunity does present itself, as in this instance, they won’t hesitate to take advantage of it. This opportunistic behavior helps them to conserve energy, however scavenging is not their main strategy for acquiring food, as for some hyenas or vultures.
