Yesterday we promised you more photos of the fascinating interaction between the Spotted Hyenas and Elephant at Hapoor Dam in Addo Elephant National Park, and here they are.
When we arrived on the scene, the hyenas were quite far from the road and only barely visible without binoculars (or a 300mm camera lens). We could see they were eating, but couldn’t figure out what. Then one adult hyena picked up a sizable chunk of meat and started walking towards us, followed closely by a sub-adult with a piece of leg in its mouth. As they came closer we could identify the prey item as a buffalo calf, or what was left of it anyway. Whether it was caught by the hyenas themselves or killed by lions and then stolen we’ll never know. In any event, the hyenas promptly deposited their meat in a drinking trough on the opposite side of the road to where the actual Hapoor Dam is. Caching food in this fashion is quite well-known hyena behaviour.
The hyenas were still tussling in the water, apparently not knowing whether they want to save their meal for later or gobble it all up now, when a big elephant bull appeared out of the spekboom-thicket some distance away. And he was obviously on a mission. In no time the elephant closed the distance to the hyenas, and while the courage of the younger of the two predators gave in much quicker than that of his older pack mate both had to vacate their bath-cum-larder before the agitated bull got too close. For his part the elephant then gave the fouled water one indignant sniff before moving across the road to drink from Hapoor Dam proper.
With the elephant gone, the hyenas quickly moved back to their pantry, retrieved their meat and continued their meal. The day was heating up though and the Pied Crows were starting to get really annoying, and so they put their meat away a final time to be enjoyed later.
de Wets Wild 
A most interesting sequence showing all the drama.
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Almost 3 months later I still recall the scene so vividly, Carol. We’ll never visit Hapoor Dam again without thinking of this.
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What a fabulous interaction. I enjoyed that immensely and your pics told the story beautifully too. I was almost there with you!
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Thank you very much, Ally, and welcome here!
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Fabulous true-life story and a gallery of photos to illustrate! Fascinating read.
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Thank you very much, John. It truly was one of those sightings we’ll never forget and no way we’ll ever get to Hapoor Dam in the future without recollecting it.
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What drama! Fascinating to see and read your descriptions of these interactions.
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It’s experiences like this which makes it so addictive to be out in our wild places – you just never know what will cross your way.
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What a cool series.
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Thanks very much, PJB!
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De Wet, ek lê in die oggende in die bed en lees die blogs. Hierdie laaste ruk sukkel ek met joune. Ek kyk op my foon, en helfde van jou fotos en geskryf daarby is oormekaar. Dink jy daar is fout my my stellings? Dit klink nie of ander daaroor kla nie.
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Ek is baie jammer om van jou frustrasie te hoor, Una. Ongelukkig is ek hopeloos met die tegniese goed en weet ek nie eers waar om te begin om dit op te los nie. Jammer weer, en dankie dat jy nogtans kom inloer.
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A delightfully dramatic series of photographs to illustrate a tussle you were privileged to see!
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Definitely privileged to be in the right place at the right time, Anne.
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What an amazing gallery of shots!
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Thank you very much, Irene
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That was quite a story and so well told by your and Joubert’s excellent photos. I laughed about the hyenas having to decided who was going to get the lion’s share. If a Lion had been present there would have been no question. 😅
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Thank you very much, Sylvia. Just think how exciting the sequence would have been if the was a lion in the mix too!
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😳
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Well documented event in the wilderness, this is life in the jungle. Good job done, D. and Joubert. 🙂
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Thanks very much, H.J, and you are very right – scenes like this play out in our wild places daily and we were just fortunate to be there this time to witness it.
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What a story!! Great action shot with the bird, Joubert!
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Thanks very much, Lois. Joubert will be thrilled at your comment.
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Ook maar ‘n stryd om jou kos te behou.
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Buffel kalfsvleis is klaarblyklik al die moeite werd!
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What a great series and story! In the end, it was win-win. The elephant ran them off, but they still had their prey and meal. 🙂
janet
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Hyenas usually come out tops, especially the Spotted kind. I think that’s part of why I like them so.
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