April 12, 2025
It is known that cheetahs can eat the prey of other cheetahs, and the hunter shares even with unfamiliar cheetahs. But sharing with stronger competitors is a very rare occurrence in nature.
Once again, Olonyok demonstrates extraordinary survival skills. He was the first male in the Tano Bora coalition to share kills with the hyenas, back when the group was still in full force. We observed this behavior several times with different hyenas in different parts of the reserve.
It is important to note that each time it was not the dominant hyena, but a subordinate one, for whom it was more important to gain access to food than to spend energy on winning back the prey. And each time it was large prey, which was not easy for a hyena to carry off (Topi, wildebeest, zebra). Now that Olonyok is alone, he has begun to hunt Thomson’s gazelles and continues to catch juveniles of Topi whenever possible.
Interestingly, when Olonyok caught the young Topi, its loud sounds attracted the attention of other predators. The first to appear from the nearest bushes were three Nashipae’s daughters. After a warning growl, Olonyok allowed Nasieku to eat with him.
Then Naimutie and Nempiris tried to join. But hyena that came scared the young cheetahs, and they all left. Olonyok ate with the hyena for an hour, often nose to nose. Later, the hyena took small portions and went to eat at a distance. After eating, Olonyok lay down next to the remains, but the hyena took them too. Having discovered this, Olonyok followed the hyena and lay down next to her, watching her for some time feeding, and then left.
