Hyenas are feliform
carnivoran mammals of the
family Hyaenidae.
Despite their low diversity,
hyenas are
unique and vital components of
most African ecosystems.
Hyenas originated in
the jungles of Miocene Eurasia
22 million years ago, when most
early feliform species were
still largely arboreal.
Lions and hyenas
inhabit the same geographic
ranges in Africa and depend on
the same prey as food.
This competition
fuels a relationship
characterized by animosity. When
the animals cross each
others’ paths they react with
hostility, sometimes
without apparent reason.
Observers have noted occasions
where male lions
seem to take pleasure in
harassing or killing hyenas.
Because lions
and hyenas both consume the same
prey, they are each others’
most common competitors.
Lions are three to four times
larger than hyenas and kill
larger animals. A group of
hyenas, however, can often use
teamwork to intimidate a
lion away from its kill.
Both lions and hyenas
frequently steal from each other.
Lions have learned to
recognize the feeding calls of
hyenas after a recent kill.
They follow the calls to the
source and chase the hyenas from
their prey.
Although it would seem
abundant prey would lessen the
hostility
between lions and hyenas, the
opposite has been observed.
Although the two species share
the same geographic
range, both
lions and hyenas are territorial
and extremely aggressive
toward one another.
Lions have been known
to kill hyena young, and a
lion entering hyena territory
is dealt with swiftly and
aggressively by the individuals
guarding the den.
Africa is home to
wildebeests, also known as
ox-headed antelopes. The
Serengeti plains are their
natural habitat. Wildebeests have
a plethora of natural
predators. Its predators
include lions, leopards,
hyenas, and wild dogs.
Because wildebeests
travel in herds, they can defend
themselves
against predators.
These creatures, which
weigh between 150 and 300
kilograms, are prey for
predators. These wildebeests are
forced to migrate once or
twice a year due to drought, and
they face a variety of
threats in the wild. He must
use extreme caution even
when drinking water.
Lions pride would
rather hunt much larger preys,but
solitary lions
notoriously consume
antelopes as their prey.
These big cats are not known
for their speed,
but they have developed two
hunting methods to compensate.
The first, they either stalk and
ambush quarry.
The second, they hide in a bush
close to a water source and wait
for prey.
Patience wins the day for
lions.
Antelopes' inability to
learn from mistakes also
supports the lions' attack
style. Time after time, the
feline's composure can
result in a kill.
Eagles are large,
powerfully built birds of prey,
with heavy heads and beaks.
Most of the 60
species of eagle are from Eurasia
and Africa.
Due to the size and
power of many eagle species,
they are ranked at the top of
the food chain as apex
predators in the avian world.