These Wild Dogs Chase a Hyena and Win Twice

Kruger National Park is located in the northeastern region of South Africa and is home to several wild animals, including rhinos, lions, leopards, hyenas, and African wild dogs. They offer a variety of options for guests, including guided safaris, romantic safaris, and even self-drive safaris.

Many tourists are hopeful about lion sightings but there’s never a shortage of wildlife to encounter while on safari. They are likely to encounter lion prides along with elephants, giraffes, and buffalo. Some of the more popular safari trips are intensive, with options that span six days. During these longer safaris, guests are more likely to witness an event like the one captured in this video.

Watch All the Action in the Video Below!

How Do African Wild Dogs Protect Their Kills?

African wild dogs epitomize teamwork. They are extremely territorial and fervently defend their territories and their kills. When the video starts, you watch as a wild dog chases off a hyena trying to encroach on the fruits of their hunt. Although obviously much larger, the hyena runs away.

Then, you watch as the wild dogs share their kill, never fighting over it. Each of them grabs a piece. The narrator in the video later explains that this hyena has been trailing the pack of wild dogs. They’re great hunters, and hyenas know it. There are more than 20 wild dogs hunting in the clip, and they’re ready to make their kills.

First, they stalk a herd of impala and manage their first kill. They move quickly and eat quickly — from when they started chasing it to devouring it completely, it took under five minutes. The wild dogs celebrate, full of energy after their meal is done. In the video, you can see how the wild dogs hunt and capture their next kill — a baby impala.  

Hyenas vs. African Wild Dogs: What Do They Hunt?

Hyenas are known for being opportunistic — they’ll steal a meal any chance they get. This is the only risk they pose to African wild dogs, however. They would rather stalk and take advantage of a distracted wild dog pack to capitalize on their hunting skills.

African wild dogs travel in large packs of 10 to 40, which only increases their strength, making them more effective hunters. Hyenas are larger but African wild dogs are typically more adept hunters. Both of them are carnivorous, though hyenas’ diets are more flexible (they are opportunistic scavengers, after all).

Whereas African wild dogs generally stick to warthogs, gazelles, rodents, wildebeests, and birds, hyenas go for antelopes, zebras, rabbits, birds, snakes, and more. In the video above, you experience The Virtual Safari on YouTube and get a first-hand look at how these two species interact in the wild.

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