Hyenas Show Mercy On Old And Blind Lioness

An elderly lioness was shown mercy by a group of hyenas in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. Blind and frail, the big cat was fortunate to survive what could have been a deadly encounter with her arch-enemies.

Steyn Jacobsohn was responding to a lion sighting in the park and told Latest Sightings, “As we got there, we saw that it was a lioness, and she was blind. I’m not sure what happened to her.”

When the hyenas came down the road they initially didn’t appear to be aware of her. However, they soon picked up her scent and approached her with caution. As they inched closer the lioness let out a low grown but didn’t move. Curiously, the hyenas didn’t react excitedly but instead appeared confused.

Last Sightings wrote, “Ordinarily, lone individuals — especially those injured — are set upon with little hesitation. In this case, the hyena’s behaviour suggests only curiosity. In human terms, there is even a hint of pity on display.”

The hyenas eventually wandered off and the old lioness went back to resting her chin on the ground. It is a sad sight to see the lioness so weakened and helpless. The videographer and Last Sightings noted that the lioness is unlikely to survive for much longer. Being that the animals are wild, human interventions in cases like this are rare, except where human activity has aggravated or is threatened by old, sick animals. In such cases, euthanasia is the only available remedy.