Watch: Hyena startles leopard

Photo: YouTube/LatestSightings

Watch: Hyena startles leopard in the Kruger [video]

A hyena recently startled a leopard in what is said to be a “comical wildlife sighting” in the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Watch: Hyena startles leopard

Photo: YouTube/LatestSightings

A sneaky hyena recently tried its luck and almost scared a leopard out of its wits in Sabi Sands bordering Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Yes, 33-year-old field guide, Jason Joubert told Latest Sightings about this comical sighting saying that they came across the sleeping leopard about 100m from their lodge.

A fright

“We came across a male leopard sleeping in a mitre drain. We stopped, sat and watched for about 5 minutes while the guests had their cameras out to capture the sighting for their souvenirs.

“As we watched the leopard wake up and groom, we noticed a male hyena walking down the road in our direction. (I assume he was following the leopards’ scent). We watched and waited as the hyena carefully approached the leopard, taking a step closer and closer each time and the leopard seemingly oblivious of its sniffing visitor while it groomed its paws”.

Jason says that they did not expect the hyena to walk straight up to the leopard.

“The leopard slowly got up, almost still in a sleepy daze, and realized with a jolt that the hyena was now almost face to face! It jolted up in defence and jumped back, snarling and growling, warning the hyena to keep a distance.”

A comical scene

He says that this was actually quite comical.

“This was a comical scene, everyone on the vehicle had a good chuckle. After a few seconds, the hyena carried on walking off as there was no reason for him to hang around any longer, there was no potential meal to scavenge for, and so the leopard went back to grooming. We are lucky enough to witness hyena and leopard interaction quite often, but never quite like this! Once you get to a sighting and you do start filming, make sure to film longer!”