Hyenas rescue clan member from Black Dam's jaws

In early August at Arathusa Safari Lodge, De Beer and his guests, including Margot and Maddie Lowe from Australia, returned to a scene they’d witnessed the day before: the two Black Dam males feasting on a mysterious hippo carcass.

The dawn was still fresh when they found the Black Dam males and a Nkuhuma pride female feeding. At the edges, a clan of hyenas waited impatiently, eyes fixed on the feast.

Then, out of nowhere, the powerful S8 male charged in, attempting to chase the Black Dams away. Seizing the moment, the hyenas advanced. But one Black Dam male was swift in his retaliation, ensuring not a single scavenger would snatch a bite.

What unfolded next was riveting. The powerful lion seized a hyena, jaws clamped around its head, intent on a deadly finish. It seemed bleak for the hyena until its clan rallied, a testament to the profound bond these creatures share and their bone-crushing strength.

Lions and hyenas: natural adversaries in the wild, battling over the same spoils. While lions dominate with sheer strength, hyenas excel in strategic scavenging.

A special thanks to Maddie Lowe for capturing this riveting moment on film.