A lone Hyena fights off a Wild Dog pack of 8.

[Marc Mol]

Normally encounters like this are very fleeting, lasting just seconds, with the hyena running off quickly, but this situation was a little different, as the lone Hyena was trapped by the high bank and water with the wild dog flanking it on both sides.
The classic cackling/wooping sounds of the hyena coupled with the white tail flicking squalling squadron of wild dog was amazing. http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/images/smilies/Whoa%21.png
At one stage the hyena viciously bit down on the neck of one wild dog and it let out a an almighty howl, the wild dog started to wear it down by continually biting his rear and it became a battle of attrition and "backs to the wall", eventually the hyena thought it was better taking his chances with the gaping jaws of a hippo and sit it out in the water.
Wild dog have an inherent fear of water if they feel crocs are around, so they kept their distance and eventually got bored with it all and moved off to find other conquests. :bg3:


Sabie Sands- RSA.

D4s 400 f/2.8E FL 1/1600s f/5.6 ISO 640 to 720, bean bag from front pax seat, cropped for comp, slight levelling, curves, levels, TK adj in PS CC '15 & ACR.



I love the waving solid white tails from all the very excited wild dogs

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This wild dog let out an almighty yelp as the jaws from the hyena clamp down on it's neck! :Whoa!:

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I'd rather take my chances with a hippo.......thanks!

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I love the look from all concerned here, even the hippo turns to my camera as if to say "what was that all about??" :bg3:

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Cheers
Marc

[keith mitchell]

Marc this is an excellent series of shots particularly with the Hippo entering the scene, do feel for the hyena a bit.

Keith.

[Randy Stout]

Marc:

Very dramatic, and I really like the story telling aspect here, plus your verbal description. I think hyenas are one of natures ugliest creatures, but don't wish this on any animal.

Thank you for sharing this encounter.

Cheers

Randy

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Marc - Nice to see the whole series. As Randy said, very dramatic.

TFS,
Rachel

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hello Marc,

Superb action captured and so much to look at!
Wonderful images showing the agony of the desperate hyena struggling to escape a wild dog attack. Great use of frames to create the story, which might in fact have a stronger presence than the actual event:cheers:

Love the frenzy, expressions from the characters, the presence of the hippo as spectator. The low POV also adds to the drama.

I took great pleasure in reading the text as well as your short captions, not only it gave me a better understanding of the circumstances, but also an auditory experience - I could almost hear the yelps and calls and even the hippo splashing water!

Thank you so much for sharing Marc, I sincerely hope you get this published in a Wildlife Magazine:5

Kind regards,

[Marc Mol]

Appreciate the positive comments everyone, many thanks.



Thank you so much for sharing Marc, I sincerely hope you get this published in a Wildlife Magazine:5

Kind regards,

Thanks Gabriela,

was fortunate to have this published in print & online UK newspapers, and negotiating with US & German mags atm.:S3:

[Andre Pretorius]

Hi Marc

Very dramatic and well captured!
Congrats!