A hungry lizard was not about to let a hyena take control of a carcass found in the bush, so it stood up for itself and managed to get a meal.
South Africa (22 February 2023) – 20-year-old BSc Ecology student Nicola Marneweck from the University of Pretoria saw a puzzling sighting recently, of a Nile Monitor challenging a Hyena for its share of a zebra carcass. She shared the amusing sighting with Latest Sightings, who shared it with the Good Things Guy team.
Nicola shared that they were on a sundowner drive when they first saw the zebra carcass. The next morning, it was no surprise to find a hyena at the carcass however, seeing the monitor challenge the zebra was unexpected.
“On our sundowner drive, we found a zebra that had mysteriously died without wounds or bite marks. We knew that something would come to claim it. So the next day, we went back to check what had happened. We drove along the road next to the river to the crime scene and found a full hyena by the carcass. The carcass now consisted of only bones, teeth, and some meat. The hyena bit off the lower jaw of the zebra and walked around with it in its mouth, looking like it had a pair of false teeth.”
“We spotted a big Nile Monitor slowly making its way up from the river. It was heading in the direction of the hyena and its meal. “Perhaps using its tongue to sniff out the source of the strange odour.”
“Only once the monitor got closer to the carcass did the hyena come to see what was happening. To our surprise, as well as that of the hyena, the monitor was not intimidated by the hyena and instead tried to intimidate it! The hyena was not taught that ‘sharing is caring’ and dragged the carcass away each time the monitor came to it.”
The diet of monitor lizards consist mainly of other reptiles, insects, fish, and, on rare occasions, carrion. If a meal is so opening available, and only one hyena to contend with, it is no surprise that the lizard took a chance to grab an extra bite of protein.
This feisty lizard was not up for missing out on a meal and was not afraid to stand its ground.
“The monitor did not give up without a fight. It used its tail as a weapon, smacking it against the bones of the carcass to make a loud, intimidating noise. It even smacked the hyena in the face with its tail!”
“I was so surprised to see the determination of the Nile monitor challenging a very possessive hyena. At first, I could not believe my eyes or ears when the monitor smacked its tail against the bones of the carcass to intimidate the hyena. Letting it know it was not backing down. Luckily, I got to see the monitor come back again for another mouthful. This time it smacked the hyena in the face!”
“At this point, the hyena had enough. He proceeded to drag the carcass far away from the monitor. The monitor decided it was time to give up; it walked in the opposite direction, where it found some scraps and bones to check for meat.”
Take a look at the fascinating moment below.
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