Watch: Old Lion Refuses to Surrender Despite Being Outnumbered by 10 Hyenas

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It’s amazing how perceptive hyenas can be! They are constantly assessing and analyzing their environment and the animals around them. This pack has come across an elderly male lion enjoying his kill. As the big cat tucks into his meal, the hyenas surround him making a huge noise. They can tell he is past his prime and pushing their luck more than they would with a younger lion. In the clip, we see the lion has to pause his meal a couple of times to chase the hyenas away. The noise that these scavengers make is truly amazing! They may be irritating the lion, but they cannot overpower him and will have to wait a little longer before they get their share of the carcass.

What Do Hyenas Normally Eat?

Spotted hyenas are carnivores and are both skilled and flexible hunters. They usually focus on medium-sized animals but will sometimes target larger animals including buffalos and giraffes. However, they can only overcome these larger herbivores if the target is very young, injured, sick, or pregnant. Hyenas are opportunists and have seen an opportunity to get some meat from this lion! They use the same approach to exploit the seasonal migration of animals through the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

On the list of medium to large animals hunted by hyenas, you will find zebra, impala, and wildebeest. They are also adept at catching small animals including scrub hair and baboons. Occasionally, they will also hunt reptiles, birds, and fish and have been seen eating termites and earthworms.

How Do Hyenas Normally Hunt?

Even though they have a reputation as scavengers, hyenas often hunt most of their prey. Because they hunt as a pack, they are highly effective at bringing down their targets. Their hunting sequence starts with them locating the prey using their excellent sense of smell and hearing. They cleverly approach the prey from downwind and spread out so that they are several feet apart. The next step is to test out their target by dashing towards them and this scatters herd animals and causes great confusion.

Their aim is to isolate a vulnerable individual and this is where they will focus their hunt. If no individual is identified, they will abandon their efforts and try elsewhere. Hyenas are willing to chase their prey for 20 minutes or even more. When they reach them they direct their bites at the animal’s rump.

At the same time, many packs are also willing to opportunistically scavenge and steal food from other predators – if they get the chance. Hyena packs have been spotted stealing carcasses from lions. If that doesn’t work out, they often simply wait until the lion has abandoned the meal and then finish it off.