Making A Meal Of It: Lions and Hyenas Feast On Dead Hippo

The big cats were feasting on the carcass of a massive hippo, when the scavengers turned up wanting a piece of the action.

The heavily outnumbered lions initially tried to fight them off, but were eventually humbled into sharing their dinner.

Safari tour leader Robyn Preston watched as the two species came face-to-face in Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Robyn, who also works as a wildlife photographer, said: "All the hyenas and lions got a feed.

"There was a lot of growling - particularly the lionesses and the juvenile male.

"Occasionally the lions would leap across the carcass at the hyenas.

"But hunger got the better of all of them and they realised that in order to get something to eat, they had to accept the situation without either animal getting injured.

"They were close to each other without pushing boundaries.

The bulky hippo was brought down by notorious lions the Notch brothers, who are well-known in the park for working together to kill their prey.

After the Notch brothers had their fill, the Rekero Pride moved in - but were unable to keep the hyenas at bay.

Robyn, who travels to the reserve from her home in Nairobi, photographed the interaction over three days, after the four males killed the hippo on June 10.

She said: “The Notch brothers are indeed notorious and well-known for killing hippos.

“In the beginning, before the Rekero Pride arrived, they wouldn't let any of the hyenas near their kill.

“And even when the other pride arrived, they wouldn't let them near either.

"It was only the following day, when the Notches had full bellies and moved off up the hill and out of sight that the Rekero Pride were able to move in and feed.

“Initially they kept the hyenas at bay too, but the mass of hungry hyenas was too much and the lion pride were outnumbered.

"Especially as most of them were only cubs.”