As a pride of lions prepared to tuck into the spoils of a successful wildebeest hunt for breakfast, one plucky hyena had other ideas.
The hungry hyena was photographed biting a lioness’s tail as she tried to defend her kill at Naboisho Conservancy in Kenya’s Masai Mara game reserve.
A brave bite: A plucky hyena was photographed sinking its teeth into a lioness’s behind as it tried to meddle in on her breakfast.
Paws off my food: The lioness was part of an eight-strong pride that had killed the large wildebeest and were forced to share their food.
Hyenas, jackals and even some seemingly vengeful wildebeest all encroached on the scene.
The fascinating photographs, which were taken just after sunrise, show the normal hierarchy of the animal kingdom called into question.
Outnumbered: The lioness suffered painful wounds as the hyenas tackled her out of the way so they could get to her food.
Tagging along: Eyewitness Alun James said the scene at Naboisho Conservancy in Kenya’s Masai Mara game reserve was like a ‘high stakes game of poker’ in which ‘the lions blinked first’.
Feeding frenzy: Despite the pride’s hard work, they were forced to share their kill with a greedy gang of hyenas and jackals.
‘My turn’: The lioness refused to give up and fought off the smaller animals for a bite. ‘The battle ebbed and flowed with no animal in possession for more than a matter of minutes,’ said Mr James.
Opportunists: Sensing an opening, a dozen or so jackals arrived to join the drama and tucked in alongside the hyenas.
Watching on: Buffalo bulls surrounded the carcass and watched the animals devour the kill.