Michael K Malunga, a wildlife police officer for the Zambia Wildlife Authority, writes in to tell us of one animal turning the tables on another.
It took place between Mushika Camp and Museseshi stream, near Kulefu-Mushika airstrip, where we usually base ourselves. We noticed a warthog nearby and it was not moving. Actually, it looked half-dead. Was it asleep? Was it frozen by fear? Had it died? It wasn’t long before we had our answer…
A hyena soon came out of the shadows and approached the motionless animal. Almost as if checking the warthog’s vital signs, the hyena nudged it several times. There was still absolutely no movement.
Perhaps the carnivore was just making sure the warthog was ready for eating. Suddenly the warthog sprung to its feet, landing face to face with the hyena.
Surprisingly, it was the hyena – clearly startled by this resurrection of sorts – who ran scared in the opposite direction! With the warthog in close pursuit, the hyena covered the 100m or so to our camp in no time at all. Much to the hyena’s relief (and dare I say as it hoped), the warthog wasn’t so keen on entering out camp and kept its distance. The hyena continued to take refuge with us until the warthog finally made a U-turn and went on its way.
