Hyena Finds Out That Stealing Food From a Snake Is a Huge Challenge

This short clip shows a hyena taking a great interest in what a huge python is doing. The snake has caught a gazelle, and the hyena makes a quick attempt to grab at the stricken prey. However, this is no rescue mission. The hyena would quite like to eat the gazelle itself. This hungry scavenger is going to have to look elsewhere for a meal because this python has no intention of releasing its prize!

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How Do Pythons Normally Hunt?

Pythons are termed Old World snakes because they are found in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. They are solitary hunters who live off rodents, birds, other reptiles, big cats, and some smaller ungulates. These snakes can get very big; some reach around 30 feet. They are non-venomous but have large, muscular bodies which they use for hunting.

These snakes are normally ambush predators, but some forage for food. They detect prey using their sight, smell, or heat-sensing pits on their lips. Having seized the target with their sharp teeth, they coil around it. Then, they exert so much pressure that their prey suffers heart failure. Thanks to their flexible skulls, extra joints, and stretchy skin, they are able to swallow their prey whole.

Do Hyenas Normally Steal Food From Other Animals?

Hyenas have a reputation as scavengers, and it’s clear from this clip that they are perfectly willing to try to pinch some prey that they like the look of. However, most hyenas actually get the majority of their food by hunting it themselves. They hunt in packs, generally at night, and locate prey by smelling and hearing it. Hyena packs approach from downwind and try to identify vulnerable targets among the group of prey. Often, these are very young, very old, or already injured. The hyenas chase them, biting at their rumps and loins and bringing them to the ground where they can be overpowered.

When scavenging, hyenas either steal kills from other predators or wait to finish off the carcass when it has been abandoned. That is not an option with python kills, though, because they swallow the lot! Lions, however, are more particular about what they eat. They sometimes leave everything except for the internal organs and some leg muscles. Hyenas are happy to polish this off and will even eat bones. They also eat quickly and gorge on as much food as they can.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock.com