Felids Interactions - Interspecific Conflicts

[Tshokwane]

The late Emsagwen male vs hyena: Emsagwen male leopard – 16 June 2009

He was found again strolling around Piccadilly - a place he seems to have taken for his own.This male leopard was looking lean, and as dusk approached he looked to hunt. With all the impala herds congregating in the open area around Piccadilly Pans, the leopard moved east away, hoping for some stragglers late in arriving. Coming upon a herd of zebra, he took interest in one of the youngsters and started stalking that way. Rangers watched in amazement as the leopard made a serious attempt at the young zebra, and when he rushed in they followed up - not sure what to expect. Not in their wildest dreams would they ever expect to turn the corner and find the Emsagwen male strangling the zebra foal - but this was indeed the scene as they came around the bushes. Last week, the Styx lioness had killed a zebra foal which made this sighting all the more unbelievable …. the Emsagwen male is only two thirds her size, but was in the process of killing exactly the same sized prey.Keeping a tight hold on its windpipe, the male cat made sure the zebra was dead before
releasing it to rest and recover from his amazing feat of strength. He then began to feed on the foal, starting (of course) from the rear before moving to the internal organs. A hyaena soon pitched up on the scent, and looking for an easy meal, expected the leopard to simply back off. The Emsagwen male had a different idea, and as the hyaena tried to make off with the zebra, the leopard took hold on the other end and started dragging it in the opposite direction. With the tug of war getting neither animal a meal, they confronted each other over the carcass - teeth bared, each waited for the other to make the first move. The leopard made
the first and decisive move when he vaulted over the carcass and belted the hyaena across the face with a hefty front left paw. The hyaena, stunned by the blow and realising there was no easy meal here, backed off and left the leopard to feed in peace.
Credits to Mala Mala Game Reserve

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