Clan of Hyenas Team Up on an Injured Rhino And Try To Eat It

Hyenas have a reputation as opportunistic scavengers in the wild. So it’s not surprising that a group of hyenas seized the chance to go after an injured rhino. Normally, these animals would be no match for a rhino. But given that this one is injured and not as able to defend itself, the hyenas decided to give it a try. If successful, they will enjoy a feast to remember.

The video footage below comes out of Kruger National Park. This wildlife area in South Africa is one of the best places to observe African animals in their natural habitat.

Watch the Action-Packed Footage Below!

Other rhinos nearby don’t seem too interested in the threat. The smaller animals seem to instinctively know not to mess with the uninjured rhinos. When one swings his head closer to the hyenas and his large horn comes into view, they back off. This doesn’t deter them for long, however. One brave hyena latches onto the rhino’s injury with his teeth. He doesn’t stay there for more than a few seconds. Another rhino walks over and the hyena cuts his losses.

They try it again and the rhino moves to dislodge them. So far, neither the rhinos nor the hyenas have been too aggressive. They seem to be happy to just wait and see how things play out. Unfortunately for the injured rhino, he seems to be doing the majority of the work of fending off the hungry pack.

The rhinos eventually escape into the brush with the hyenas pursuing them. The video’s captions state that a ranger was alerted to the rhino’s condition. Park vets sedated the animal and examined its injuries. Unfortunately, with a broken leg, the brave rhino had to be euthanized as it would not have been able to survive in the wild.

Is This Normal Hyena Behavior?

Yes, hyenas often hunt together. This is more common when they are trying to get to larger prey, such as a rhino. A group of hyenas is a cackle or pack. They hunt in these cackles or packs to get the largest meals. When hunting smaller animals, they often hunt alone or in pairs.

Hyenas also eat other animals’ kills. They scavenge, which they can do on their own or in a cackle. If there isn’t a lot of food, however, disputes over food can be an issue for the cackle.