A hungry hyena has found a clever way to store its leftovers for another meal – by hiding them at the bottom of a waterhole.
But on closer inspection it became clear that the predator was actually trying to dive for something specific.
Down we go: The hyena was seemingly fishing in the water at the Chudop waterhole in Etosha, Namibia
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Back to the surface: On closer inspection it became clear that the predator was actually trying to dive for something specific
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Success: After a few attempts it came back to the surface with a chuck of meat proudly locked in its jaws – ripped from a carcass
After a few attempts it came back to the surface with a chuck of meat proudly locked in its jaws – ripped from a carcass left at the river bed.
‘To my absolute astonishment it proceeded to dive down head-first to the bottom and came up with something in its mouth.
‘I eventually came to the conclusion it was fishing – it proved very entertaining and I watched these antics for quite a while.
Approaching: The photographer set up her camera gear and waited for the hyena to bring something up to the surface and onto land
Hungry: Other hyenas wait outside the Chudop waterhole in Etosha, Namibia, hoping to share the meat
Getting in the action: This was the only spotted hyena displaying the skilled behaviour, according to the photographer
‘Looking at the photographs later that evening I studied the object in its mouth more closely and found it didn’t resemble any fish.
Guarding the meat: The hyena found a clever way to store its leftovers for another meal – by hiding them at the bottom of a waterhole
Caught on camera: The hyena regurgitates the meat for the other hyenas (left), photographed by 46-year-old Anja Denker (right)