Male Lion Saunters in and Sends Hyenas Scrambling After Stealing Their Dinner

The competition for vital resources between lions and hyenas has raged for a very long time and will continue to do so as long as both creatures need to eat. Hyena packs typically outnumber a pride of lions by quite a few members. Yet, the size and power disparity between the creatures is so vast that just two adult lions can send hyenas scrambling for cover with their mere presence. That means even when hyenas make a kill, they don’t always get to keep it. If a hungry lion comes, the hyenas must leave the food or potentially die.

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This video begins with a female lion returning from a water source, looking to eat the food she left behind. In her absence, a group of hyenas has started to poach the meal. The hyenas communicate the encroachment with a series of yelps, sending the message that it’s time to start eating faster. The lioness walks directly up to the carcass and starts eating.

Interestingly, the hyenas don’t leave just yet. After all, the lion isn’t being overtly aggressive toward them. It simply wants to keep eating. In a rather interesting moment, the lion and the hyenas share a meal. They focus on eating the food in front of them rather than fighting. Many viewers would probably wonder why they aren’t attacking each other. At the very least, why aren’t they aggressively posturing? Unfortunately, the peace isn’t meant to last.

The Male Appears, Sending Hyenas Scrambling

The hyenas and the female lion continue to gnaw on the carcass together. Yet, a sudden change sweeps over the plains. One of the hyenas makes an alarming call, and all the hyenas rapidly depart from the corpse. On the other hand, the female lion looks over her shoulder and then resumes eating.

The camera pans over to the side, and we see a male lion approaching the lioness. The time of cooperation has ended because the male has come to feed. Rather than starting to eat, the lion saunters past the corpse toward the closest hyena.

The lion does a full patrol around the area, showing every hyena who is the boss. That way, they know to back off while he eats. The hyenas do the smart thing and leave. The video cuts to a different scene, with another male lion walking by a pack of eating hyenas. This time, the lion walks past them indifferently rather than sending the hyenas scrambling away.

This male had apparently eaten its fill and could not be bothered to eat more. Nevertheless, it shows no fear while slowly walking past a dozen hyenas. That’s the kind of authority few creatures have in the wild. After the lion passes, the hyenas resume eating, fighting among themselves for the best parts, happy to continue their feast in peace.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © PatP66/Shutterstock.com