In this video captured by Matthew Grossett, one of our partners situated in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, we see two white rhinos and two hyenas interact at a watering hole. The hyenas, predators in the wild, quickly moved away as the rhinos approached them – let’s look into why!
Quick Rhino vs Hyena Stats
| White Rhino | Spotted Hyena | |
| Scientific Name | Ceratotherium simum | Crocuta crocuta |
| Size | 11 to 13 feet body length | 4.7 to 6 feet body length |
| Weight | 3,960 to 5,500 pounds | 88 to 190 pounds |
| Diet | Herbivores | Carnivores |
| Conservation Size | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Hyena Temperament
When it comes to hyenas strength lies in numbers. These animals live and hunt in clans, overpowering their prey and chasing off danger together. This could explain why the two hyenas in the video quickly ran off when the rhinos started to approach them.
Do Hyenas Get Into Fights?
These scavenging animals often have play fights between themselves! They communicate that the fight is playing through facial expressions and body language. However, they will get into real fights when competing for a breeding mate or food.
White Rhino Temperament
White rhinos typically live in herds of around 14 individuals, while adult males tend to roam alone. White rhinos are mostly timidly tempered, but due to their poor eyesight, they will often charge when startled. But this is not as common as they will usually run away if they sense danger!
Do White Rhinos Get Into Fights?
As we already mentioned white rhinos are generally timidly tempered and avoid fighting. However, when two dominant males compete for a female they will get into pretty aggressive fights to determine who is the dominant male. They do so by using charging and using their horns and teeth as weapons.
The Interaction
In the video, we see the two hyenas and two white rhinos hanging around the watering hole in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. The rhinos seemingly unbothered by the two very aware hyenas, turn to chase the hyenas away. This might be due to rhinos being territorial, or feeling uncomfortable in the presence of the scavengers. No one got hurt in this interaction – the hyenas knew better than to mess with the rhinos 20 times their size!
The Video
Final Say
This is one of the many wildlife interactions that allow us a glimpse into nature’s inner workings. In the video taken by Matt in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, we see that even predators know their limitations – avoiding harm!
If you enjoyed this article and video, have a look at some of our other original partner content!
- Rare Footage of Leopard and Hyena Eating Side by Side
- Elephants Protect Their Babies from Wild Dogs
- Watch: The Mighty Lion’s ROAR
- Video Showcasing A Leopards Extraordinary Climbing Abilities
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