Watch This Hyena Respect a Leopard’s Personal Space

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The hyena in this clip knows when it’s the right time to walk away. It spotted a leopard reclining ahead as it strolled along a dusty road. The big cat is directly in the hyena’s path, presenting the smaller predator with a dilemma. Does it continue trying to look confident and hope that nothing happens? Or does it change course and walk through the long grass for a while to avoid confrontation? You can see the hyena considering its options and then decide on the safer strategy. Wise choice!

What Do Leopards Normally Eat?

Leopards are carnivores who can eat a wide range of prey. Their preferred species varies by where they live. For example, leopards living in Iran focus on wild sheep, pigs, and goats. Meanwhile, leopards in the rainforests of Africa hunt ungulates, primates, and large rodents. Those that live in mountainous areas hunt smaller ungulates such as klipspringers and porcupines. Leopards are also happy to steal prey from other predators if they can.

Do Leopards Normally Attack Hyenas?

Hyenas are not high on a leopard’s favorite food items. That said, leopards have been seen both attacking and eating hyenas. Primarily, leopards see hyenas as competition rather than food. Hyenas make a nuisance around leopard kills and try to steal carcasses from big cats. This is one of the reasons that leopards hide their kills in trees. Hyenas cannot climb trees!

If a leopard is hungry, however, it would not turn down the chance to eat a hyena. This is most likely to happen when other prey is scarce.

Do Hyenas Attack Leopards?

This hyena is alone and, therefore, acts very differently from how hyenas work with their pack. A lone hyena does not stand a chance against a fit adult leopard. The hyena in this clip knows this and has decided to avoid confrontation.

A pack of hyenas can take on an adult leopard and be successful. Confrontations between these two species are usually over food and territory. If the leopard is large, fit, and male, he may get the better of an entire pack. However, older, smaller, weaker, and younger leopards can be overcome by several hyenas. A pack of hyenas will not pass up the opportunity to eliminate a potential competitor!