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Felids Interactions - Interspecific Conflicts
Felids Interactions - Interspecific Conflicts
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Felids Interactions - Interspecific Conflicts
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Leopard kills and Eats Two Hyennas
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author "It was first light as we left Mombo camp, within five minitues we saw Hyenas running from all directions. Our guide Simon shouted 'Leopard in a tree' but as we approached he jumped down. Who knows why? maybe he thought there was only one Hyena, BIG mistake! before long he was surrounded by 5 blocking his escape to a nearby tree. They attacked him from all sides (note the one on the right has a firm hold)he was rolling on his back slashing with all feet. The sounds were horrific and there were tears from the ladies in our vehicle,clouds of dust everywhere.They dragged him into a bush and before long all went quiet, we feared the worst,reminding me of thugs beating up a helpless guy in a back alley. After a while the Leopard appeared slowly edging away from the bush again followed but the Hyenas, but this time they were submissive and keeping a safe distance. Later we managed to locate them licking their wounds, the old man had inflicted some nasty gashes and bites." Read more: http://theworldofanimals.proboards.com/t...z3CB2pwntf  *This image is copyright of its original author 
Leopards are just incerdible! I love those cat's.
hyena predation is very interesting, The one identifyed by ted was a young induviduval and The same goes for The one in The pictures. I was hocked on hyenas some years back, and then I learned that they are just mad animals durable as few. Surprisingly enough I don't think even The biggest male leopards could kill The biggest dominante female hyenas. I have seen younger hyenas survive a mauling from four lionesses so I think The leopard would have difficulties killing it, aswell as The vocal hyenas would attract clan members before The leopard could have killed her. Still young induviduvals I belive! P.S there is a video on youtube where a young male leopard kills a Probably 3-5 mounth's old hyena and still needs 20 minutes to suffucate him. Those hyena neck's. Thanks for great post's :-)
Hyennas are dominanted by Leopards, the fact that leopards are able to run off multiple hyennas is proof of that. But I have also seen a Lone Hyenna run off a lone lioness and a Leopard. But no way (more often than not) a Prime leopard doesn't dominate a prime hyenna. To many accounts exist of hyennas falling to leopards or being run off by them and not the other way around.
Also the Images say the hyenna suffocated (subdued at least) in 10 minutes at the hands of a Leopard. But hyennas are seriously durable, but sometimes a animal may misjudge between killed or unconscious. If the leopard is wanting to eat the hyenna it wouldn't matter if it was dead or unconscious, its to late for the animal. Also in the article, one hyenna is said to be younger and the other says the age was undetermined. No age given on the leopard and hyenna interaction where the leopard held the grip for 10 minutes, no age given on the other two hyennas killed by the leopard and the lone leopard was able to defeat 5 hyennas. There is just no way a lone hyenna could compete against 5 leopards, let a lone one big male. To many weapons for the Big cat, Durability is nice, but big cats are extremely durable with far greater weapons. The greatest weapon a Hyenna has is Teamwork.
It is also important to say that leopard and hyena competition really depends on where in Africa. Zambia a leopard male stands no chance the biggest hyenas are from Zambia and leopards have some big male there, but no 75-90 induviduval's and there I have seen a hyena just chasing a mating pair of leopards with no reasons. But in Kruger where hyenas are also big and leopards said to be huge The balance is more even.
I think it's more even than You think, hyenas I have seen chasing large male leopards and also The other way around. I do not think a large dominant hyena has any fear of a leopard just respect. Also less dominant hyenas are easaly scared as they lack confidence, but hyenas with alot of confidence and a good size is a very dangous animal, remember they can kill Massive animals up to three times their size alone! Hyenas can't defend themselves as good as a cat no doubt, but I have seen a hyena survive attacks from 4 lionesses and would have a good chance of surviving a attack from 5 leopards aswell. Also hyenas can survive with three legs, and can take bigger risk's than a leopard because The can fall back on The other clan members, that's probably also a good factor why some hyenas are so bold and are willing to take so big risk's! And leopard's are more carefull, a god bite from a hyena in The paw could mean death for The leopard! I think if leopard's where a normal threat to hyenas it would have been captured on film and hyenas would be more carefull around them, but some male leopards can ofcourse adapt The habbit of learning The skill's of killing them, but it's probably very rare, and it must be a massive leopard still I doubt a dominant animal. Either way both animals are very powerfull animals and deserves a lot of respect! 
The leopard is a great hunter, but he is not looking for a fight. If a leopard can can sneak up on an unsuspecting hyena, he might get a quick kill and have lunch. I suspect most leopards however would rather avoid a potentially life threatening fight. If the leopard is pretty sure he has the drop on the hyena, I think it is a different story. The leopard quite frankly just has more to lose. Like Pantherinae said, one good bite on the paw by a hyena could ultimately end in death for the leopard. The dynamics of leopard and hyena interaction are most likely similar to that of amur tiger and brown bear.
Great discussion, 2 point to remember
1st - Leopards are lone animal. so they avoid any injuries 2nd - Hyenas have one of the most powerful jaws in animal world. More powerful than any big cats. Hyena tear the flesh while big cats penetrate it. Social characteristics of hyena (dog like) are much better than big cats (Lions) 
Thought I contributed a little, here You have some leopards beeing in combat with lion's
 *This image is copyright of its original author male lion with young leopard *This image is copyright of its original author young leopard who has fallen victem *This image is copyright of its original author lioness and male leopard in tree.
this one is interesting video
here a big hyena chases off a adult male leopard, great video show's how impressive hyenas are! A wolf would never managed this :-)
What I have discoverd over The years is that a adult male leopard will dominante a young hyena and an adult hyena will dominante younger leopards.
Intercations between adult induviduvals does not have the same rule, some leopards dominantes hyenas, and The other way around. Leopards have a bigger weaponanry, but hyenas can also damage leopards serriously with their crushing bite. Both animals can kill The other one. Both animals are highly interesting and extreamly powerfull Amazing battle between The two top predators in Africa after The lion poor hyena imagen how terrifying that must have been Interesting what a difference a male lion can make in these battles with hyenas, no doubt The are great pride protectors |
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