Lion Cub Surrounded by Gang of Hyenas Calls Mom for Backup

This mother lioness was forced to gift her meal to a clan of hungry hyenas to save her cub from a definite death.
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Benji Solms, a guide at Serondella Safari Lodge, saw this very interesting and nail-biting sighting. Benji shared the video and story with LatestSightings.com.
It all started off with two leopards that were feeding on an impala carcass they had just recently caught. The two cats were unfortunately forced to leave their meal when a mother lioness and her cubs arrived.
The leopards had taken the impala into a tree that they thought would be out of reach of any other predator. They were wrong, as the mother lioness and her cubs were able to easily jump up the base of the tree and get to the carcass that was resting in the fork of the tree.
As the saying goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. In Africa, we say where there’s meat, there’s hyenas. A clan of hungry hyenas were the first to arrive on the scene after the lions had successfully stolen the leopard’s lunch. But, unlike big cats, hyenas struggle to climb anything and can't get anywhere near the kill. The hungry hyenas were left with nothing but the smell of the fresh meat and their hopes that the lion would accidentally drop it.
The mother lioness didn’t seem bothered at all by their presence, but the same cannot be said about her cubs. Their inexperience made them doubtful; their hearts were racing at the presence of so many hyenas! Surely, they thought it was only a matter of time until the hyenas got to them.
As the hyenas started to spread out, one of the cubs saw what he thought to be the perfect escape opportunity. He leapt down from the tree, thinking he could make a run for it. But as soon as his little paws hit the ground, the entire clan of hyenas surrounded him! Jaws snapping and ready, the hyenas meant business!
The cub was fear-stricken; it froze. The whooping sounds of the hyenas, accompanied by their very scary sight, made him shiver in his skin. He realized that he had made a life-threatening mistake! But just when he thought it was all over, his mother came to the rescue. She dropped the carcass between him and the hungry hyenas. Then she jumped down from the tree, landing right in front of the hyenas. She gave them a stare of death and stood firm!
It worked, and the hyenas instantly turned their attention from the helpless cub to the meat in front of them. They each grabbed onto the carcass and scurried off into the bush away from the angry mother lioness. The cub was safe, and it was all thanks to the fast thinking of his mom.
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[@MohammedAAAs]

"Mom pays meat to save her cub" Alternative title 😅

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

Or lioness protect his cub from hyenas

[@718Philo]

Yeah paid with stolen leopard food

[@alancosta4760]

😂😂😂😂😂 Family first ☝️

[@oentrepreneur]

​@718Philo how do you know it's stolen?

[@andyman8630]

@@oentrepreneur because only leopards store their kills in trees

[@lexponte2876]

I love how brave the lion cub is.That stand off against 5+ hyenas is impressive 😮

[@DrakeDHDerr]

7stfu, it literally had 0 chance, too bad the hyenas were more interested in the carcass

[@lexponte2876]

@@DrakeDHDerr Yeah but It's mentality is on another level

[@qbconnect2883]

That cub won't live long with that mentality. That wasn't a game he was playing. He was seconds away from death

[@jross9553]

@@lexponte2876 mentality or not that cub would’ve died if the hyenas weren’t interested in food or if there’s no food at all

[@lexponte2876]

@@qbconnect2883 1 vs 1 the hyena couldn't stand a chance

[@ssrikantphotographer]

"Mum sacrifices kill for cub's sake" was apt title, in that poll you conducted.

[@aristotels_aristotals]

That was not her kill but that of some leopard.

[@ssrikantphotographer]

​@@aristotels_aristotalsI never said "her" kill.

[@aristotels_aristotals]

@@ssrikantphotographer One can only sacrifice what is his.

[@andyman8630]

@@aristotels_aristotals she stole it - it was hers to give

[@ssrikantphotographer]

@@aristotels_aristotals Point.

[@Cosmiclove92]

I’ve never heard an adolescent lion cub vocalize before, incredible how loud he is at that size

[@user-td9hp6li5h]

I mean, that's not even an adolescent lion cub, that's a little kid lion. Amazing sound already.

[@patrickalmanza6936]

It was actually Mufasa behind him

[@Just_a_Nobody00]

Kinda reminds me of the scene in Lion King where Simba and Nala were at the elephant graveyard surrounded by the hyenas.

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

Epic scene

[@NOVA10993]

I was thinking the same thing

[@LionDominator]

Lions and leopards are the best cats with the greatest feats. Tigers are the most overrated cats. Even a lion cub stood up to hyenas all while a 500 pound Tiger flees from a sloth bear!

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

@@LionDominator jaguar is the most overrated cat not tiger.. bears are also overrated..

[@LionDominator]

@@Bhusayy-jd3ld Don't compare a Jaguar to the Tiger I seen a Jaguar standing it's ground to a huge tiger within a cage.

[@BrianErwin]

that cub got his grown male vocals already

[@MrPhil309]

The noise those hyenas make is scarier than anything else. they make it sounds like a horror movie.

[@reynaldoflores4522]

You haven't heard African wild dogs yipping.

[@theotheseaeagle]

@@reynaldoflores4522 African wild dogs aren’t scary, they never attack people in wild, the only recorded cases of them killing people is in captivity. They are excellent hunters though

[@user-rr5eb7nh7n]

This little cub has no chance against that group of hyenas, but standing in front of them like this makes you think about the kind of extreme courage in lions' genes that could even lead them to death.

[@iminzayn5442]

Seriously, If Hyenas only have a courage, they can easily beat a single Male Lion, but they're just acared af

[@azmagaref]

@@iminzayn5442 There's many instances were they tried that "courage" and got served a mauling for trying, search for the video where a single male fights 18 hyenas and kills one lol

[@NightElveee]

​​@@iminzayn5442continue coping, Lions especially males are the most ruthless creatures who fight till death, all this other species usually engage in stands off, if that's not courage enough, then you might have another definition

[@oui2826]

​@@NightElveee "the most ruthless creatures" brother you don't know jack shit about lions. You're probably just a lion king fan boy and you grew up thinking they're the king of the jungle. Literally every single animal on earth will back off if the risk/reward ratio isn't in their favor. You'll see that with lions, bears, Tigers, elephants etc. Lions are no exceptions. You'll find countless videos of lions running away from hippos for example

[@NightElveee]

@@oui2826 Hippos are just fat and have mass, they spend their lives lazying around in the water, Lions are kings who take control of their pride, they live in family units and protect it till death, they are at constant War throughout their adult lives. Give me a better comparison of courage than an obese land whale

[@LakshaDeirwa]

Mom said take the food and leave my child Hyena thank you thank you

[@outofturn331]

Made an offer they couldn't refuse

[@disclaimer6872]

Didn't know lions can speak english

[@shafqatishan437]

​@@disclaimer6872 the lion said- roar roar roar maw maw maw, but he translated it to English

[@oui2826]

It's funny cause those hyenas could have mauled her in no sweat if they wanted to

[@apollofell3925]

You know sometimes I'm hesitant to watch these videos because I don't want to see cubs die, so glad mom was there too protect them!

[@HooDie-Trench-GoTh2022]

I thought for a second the hyena were tearing up the lion cub but it was just a carcass.

[@orlandowilliamson691]

Me too I was like damn 😂

[@thabzmad7265]

Quite a remarkable sighting! Each of the following deserves its own video and moment of contemplation! 1. Lions having lunch up a tree, not really their usual mo. 2. Hyenas challenging them (its usually Leopards in that position) 3. cub dropping out of said tree, usually Leopards (ouch) , being brave, standing its ground ... 4. The eventual meal score by the hyenas from heights they can't reach (also not everyday) !

[@TheBonginkosi]

Those lions put themselves in a leopard's shoes by stealing its kill.

[@d.michael372]

Young lion that came down that tree for all the smoke is going to be a force to be reckoned with one day.

[@HIMSTRAIGHT]

Fool may not make it. He seemed oblivious to the danger he put himself his mother and sibling in and how difficult it is to come by a meal on the competitive, deadly savannah.

[@d.michael372]

@@HIMSTRAIGHT A learning moment remembered!

[@the_sense]

The way lions climb trees to keep meat away from hyenas in this land is very special. Above all, the mother lion's love to save her child

[@countrygirlxo7188]

Looks like mom might be missing her pride. They all look fairly skinny. But I love how she wasn’t willing to let her baby die 🫡❤️

[@HooDie-Trench-GoTh2022]

😍

[@maridiancrest243]

There wasnt much left of the kill anyw maybe they got some food from it

[@Shyne282]

Most females give birth separated from the pride and raise the cubs a bit before introducing them to the pride

[@countrygirlxo7188]

@@Shyne282 these cubs are past that age

[@Shyne282]

@@countrygirlxo7188 is there an age limit to that I think it's up to the lioness to decide ,she could be an outcast or another male took over the pride and she ran away with the cubs to save them we can only guess really

[@UncommonKnowledge587]

Proof that a mothers love knows no bounds 🥰

[@joeguevara7334]

This made me miss my Mom so much.. 😢

[@pridefalcon]

Me too, I was 49 when my Mom passed away, she always treated me like her loving child

[@babaikaizxisgini1146]

Странно? А сколько вам обоим?

[@pridefalcon]

@@babaikaizxisgini1146 I am 60 now

[@KamalMaalim]

Me too 😢 miss her so much 8yrs now 😢 thank God she's still alive living Mombasa Kenya 🇰🇪❤❤❤

[@calvinm1866]

It must've been nice to have a loving one.

[@chiragdarji1571]

very clever by the mom to sacrifice a free meal in exchange for the life of her cub.

[@ibrahimmoncada2710]

Even at such an early age theres no whining when it comes to lions this cub never showed submission he confronted the hyenas hence the universal phrase 'Heart of a lion"

[@buffiesilver]

👍🌹💖💯

[@hugalahugala5182]

0:41 one of the best laughs I’ve ever heard in my life 😂

[@bosoxfan2525]

Even though the hyenas outnumbered the lion cub 6-1, and were twice its size, you could see how they still respected its strength and power.

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

Cub was lucky that his mother was there to protect him from hyenas

[@eternalbeing3339]

Yes. It was about to get eaten.

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

@@eternalbeing3339 yeah but that cub can handle 1 hyena

[@g2luizhenrique]

​@@Bhusayy-jd3ldNO WAY, NOT AT ALL

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

@@g2luizhenrique he is close in size with hyenas and he have more weapons so he can handle 1 hyena

[@LionDominator]

Hyenas are pests

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

Dutti is crying in every comment section guys😂😂

[@Dutti215]

⁠​​⁠whatever you say kid. I’m not going to argue with someone in your age. Sorry

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

@@Dutti215 cry more 🤣🤣

[@GenericDan]

You're legit the one instigating. None of your claims even make sense. A lion cub will kill a hyena? Keep dreaming.

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

@@GenericDan I never said lion cub will kill hyena but he can fight hyena and defend himself from hyena

[@GenericDan]

@@Bhusayy-jd3ld Anything can defend themselves against anything. An ant could defend itself against an elephant, however it would be unsuccessful.

[@Shark_Toothed_Therapod]

I find it weird that people hate animals. I personally like both lions and hyenas. Lucky for the cub, the hyenas only wanted the food.

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

They hate those animals because of biased fanboys

[@LionDominator]

I hate hyenas with all my soul

[@LionDominator]

@@Shark_Toothed_Therapod These are pests

[@Shark_Toothed_Therapod]

​A pest is an animal that attacks crops, food, or livestock. Most predators (including lions) are pests. ​@@LionDominator

[@jross9553]

@@LionDominatoryeah pests that are important to the ecosystem

[@RustCohle123]

And they say animals cant think logically

[@Anon1gh3]

They can't it's pure instinct.

[@dan-vv8gs]

They are talking about the people on the south side of Chicago.😅

[@eugeniaskelley5194]

Mom didn't even hesitate when her baby was facing those hyenas. She was out of that tree and was going to rip someone a new A hole even if she lost dinner. What a good mama.

[@BigBrotherTheWatcher1984]

Lioness: Nooo please don't harm my cub! Hyenas: That will cost you Lioness: *pays them with the food*

[@grievousmink3889]

That cub was brave

[@TzsNatureWithJameelFar]

damn that Lion cub is super tough going face to face with all those blood tirsty Hyena's he'll one day rule in he's kingdom the is just Mom doing what they akway's do for their babies and cub's

[@obidikesomto1930]

That cub got some balls. A full grown cheetah would have fled at sight.

[@ericadenison1019]

I don't think she intentionally gave the hyenas the food it dropped when she jumped out of the tree, but a super hero mom who prioritized her cubs safety, so much respect for all of wildlife all have their special part on the circle of life. Much respect to the herbivores who provide food for the whole wildlife chain. I am vegetarian but certainly respect the need to eat meat by big cats, and hyenas obligate carnivores.

[@oneshotme]

I very much enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@kanegorgeous3046]

That is going to be one tough lion when older. That 🦁 cub is not even showing any fear right now. GOD🙏make that lion more fearless than ever so it can protect its family.

[@Dr.Ian-Plect]

religious inanity

[@noirnoble1181]

By far she's the smartest lioness i've ever seen, made the right trade & humbly bowed out accepting defeat.

[@ThePaganSun]

"Bowed out accepting defeat?" She was capable of taking out one of those hyenas if she wanted but she wanted them to leave her cub alone.

[@user-nw1je1ur6t]

@@ThePaganSun exactly, she knew it wasnt worth the risk and just let them win

[@atefmahgoub3550]

Immense respect for the mom showcased in this video

[@elke9499]

such a cool sighting, ty

[@converter42]

God bless mama.

[@conroexlexx8267]

Lions acting like a leopard bringing carcass up the tree. Interesting

[@fillfinish7302]

Definitely a leopards stached it there

[@TzsNatureWithJameelFar]

Lion can climb in tree's and in some other national park can climb and sleep or leave in the tree's like Tarangire and Mara of Tanzania

[@idontevenknow741]

They probably stole it from one

[@conroexlexx8267]

I think the hyenas were just after for the carcass and not the cub

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

They were after the cub but they didn't kill him because his mom jumped from tree to confront them

[@ap3shot]

​@@Bhusayy-jd3ldLOL no all they want is the carcass 😂

[@Dutti215]

An adult male lion can’t handle one hyena lol. There’s “hyena corky has fought with a male lion “ video. A female hyena defeated a huge male lion 1v1. He tried to break her spine twice and failed. She bit his paw and lip and forced him to retreat lmao

[@Dutti215]

Hyenas attack and defeat lionesses at equal numbers. There’s ”3 lionesses lose their kill to 3 hyenas” video and ”hyena attack and defeat a huge lioness and steal her kill ” video lmao

[@Dutti215]

⁠ In the video ”lion vs. Hyena cub ” lions got mauled by hyenas, defeated and retreated although lions had the numbers on their side lmao

[@allemail9620]

Please tell me that the lion cub vocals were edited. He already sounds like a monster.

[@Galactusz007]

All I saw is the hyenas get the carcass…so they won.

[@andrewhezekiahdaniel]

Why did the cub drop down from the tree when so outnumbered??

[@greatbearfromthenorth9944]

Its no easy to a lion stay in a tree. He was made to the ground.

[@ali10833]

because confidence,he wants to fight those hyenas,he stood his ground,that makes him the king

[@billbixby557]

She didn't even have to go on the offensive just showing her presence on the ground was enough, of course the food dropping to the ground was the added incentive of the hyenas needed to disengage from the lions.

[@EarthIsFlat456]

wasn't enough to get the food back, was it?

[@billbixby557]

@@EarthIsFlat456 did someone say it was? Your handle, it's incorrect.

[@EarthIsFlat456]

@@billbixby557 Ultimately the hyenas got what they were after so the lioness's presence wasn't enough.

[@Dutti215]

Hyenas consider lionesses a joke. Lionesses are literally terrified of hyenas

[@harsha1989able]

​@@Dutti215you're the joke around here...

[@WatchDinoAnimate]

This video is what the poll was for! It's a nice video and you can't hear the vehicle so the animals could actually hear

[@ultimate_animal_showdown]

Even if the hyenas could easily overpower and kill the cubs they don’t just because they only want the food

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

They wanted to kill the cub but they failed

[@Dutti215]

LOL .. all they wanted was the carcass lmao

[@Dutti215]

Hyenas kill lions. there’s “hyenas fight and kill 3 lions “ video and “Hyenas eat lioness alive “ video and “hyenas kill a lioness called Moja and her cubs“ video lmao

[@GenericDan]

​@@Bhusayy-jd3ldThe hyenas were interested in the food. The cub was just something that distracted them from their original goal. If they wanted to eradicate all those lions, they would. It's just 1 adult lioness and a bunch of inexperienced young individuals that would have no idea what to do in the situation.

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

@@GenericDan hyenas wanted to kill the cub but they failed

[@pet1]

The adult lion seems to still be hungry.

[@friotaiocht101]

Mom was like "you can have the meal but don't even think about my cub".... LOL...

[@waynegreen7970]

Where is the complete video?

[@Mainemaine416]

Brave cub!

[@usa4ever711]

Those Hyenas had me cracking!!! They sound too funny! 😂

[@LionDominator]

King of beasts king of the monsters even a lion cub showed courage at the face of his adversary.

[@Bhusayy-jd3ld]

He is close in size with hyenas so he can handle 1 hyena but not pack of hyenas

[@Dutti215]

Lions are also homosexual oversized gay cats. Plenty of videos on KZbin showing male lions having sex together.lmao

[@Dutti215]

There’s “male lions mating at Kruger national park“ video. Just an example lmao

[@Dutti215]

⁠there,s “the ndhzenga male lions“ video lmao

[@Dutti215]

Hyenas kill lions. there’s “hyenas fight and kill 3 lions “ video and “Hyenas eat lioness alive “ video and “hyenas kill a lioness called Moja and her cubs“ video lmao

[@PercahoIic]

That cub sounded full grown

[@justincarreras7753]

Awesome title choice 😀

[@donderstorm1845]

impressive roar for a cub

[@robm2707]

Mother’s love ❤️ is Mother’s love 💕

[@HIMSTRAIGHT]

That cub put itself, sibling and mom in danger. Had those hyenas had an appetite for death, all three were toast.

[@fathergabrielstokes4706]

Adorable

[@russiansmustbedeead]

lion mom like: "I`ll deal with you later, it is time for you to find a job"...

[@pridefalcon]

Mom is the BEST thing in the world

[@Stanislav333F]

No

[@TheGrandUsurperOfDeath]

Hyena: REEEE REEEEEE AHAHAHAHA EEEEEEEEE YEEEEEEEEE!!!

[@SmallStreetFelines]

I love animals, whether wild or domestic, as I live in the city at the moment, I help small domestic stray felines 🐈❤️🐾😻

[@norwegianboyee]

Dang kid messing up mealtime again.

[@brunoqnzbk7891]

Damn, all it took was ONE lioness and 5 or 6 hyenas dipped 😂❤

[@dwanrobinson]

She was ready to give her life for that cub. Her posture told those hyenas everything they needed to know.

[@arunkumaarm4634]

Mom came at the right time

[@morganpirate9127]

Now let's see Mom call for HER backup! Enter the King!!

[@anandlahane7592]

It was a bloody blackmail 😂😂

[@IAmTheWaterbug]

"Thanks, Mom!!!"

[@ivanrousseau5066]

Good smart mom.

[@globalfunseeker6733]

The sound of a hyena is the only sound worse than that of a baby crying.

[@throneblack6901]

Leopard: Oh~ my lunch TT you damn lion, you damn hyena

[@wisethabrain1100]

When mom came down I heard the Stone Cold glass break

[@diontaedaughtry974]

That cub is gonna get one hell of a butt whooping for causing mom to lose her food.

[@scaligerohellas8734]

Good choice

[@RasikRajguru]

I'm telling Dad when we get back. He'll teach those Hyaenas a lesson to steal lunch.

[@saraflunker2886]

Must be a male cub, the instincts are kicking in to take no nonsense from hyenas. If he stays alive he will thrive as a dominant pride male.

[@soxfan000]

Mom lion traded the kill for the cub. Dad lion would have littered the ground with dead hyenas and then shared the meal with the cub 😂.

[@kenslenstattoo7590]

Smart mom

[@hylian1987]

Make longer videos

[@siddhantbhardwaj1190]

i am happy that the cub is safe .

[@Willian-zx9yb]

Por un momento pensé que las hienas mataban al cachorro, pero la madre fue muy inteligente 👏🏽...

[@KnightmarelXXvII]

OMG it's the Lion King!

[@McTaco]

Denny’s is crazy.

[@ragtop63]

Imagine having the opportunity to visit and see this in person and you shoot the video in portrait orientation. What an epic fail.

[@kristencave1321]

Hyenas laughing in their face when they stole their kill

[@ikigai47]

-Calls Mom For Backup- Mom pays ransom for her cub's life

[@therealm3818]

Hyenas: Give us the stuff or the kid dies💀...

[@sanogoyuga]

Male lion show up Lioness : Say that again

[@kurtisthiele]

Should be a crime to record this vertically

[@ApexAnimalWorld]

Hyenas are like kidnappers.

[@GustavoEBarriga]

I'm thinking that it might be some leopard's kill, then just momma lion scared away the leopard then now the hyenas got the prize, just a theory but what a wild one 🤣🤣

[@containedhurricane]

Too many hyenas for those small lions

[@miked1187]

Dangerous situation. That cub could have been seriously hurt very quickly. Good thing mom dropped the carcass and came down fast

[@mythoughts5418]

Damn kids

[@samdavis2389]

the usual story of a lioness stealing from a leopard,and hyenas stealing from a lioness,glad the cub was okay

[@Troysyy]

#justiceforOlobor #justiceforOlobor #justiceforOlobor #justiceforOlobor #justiceforOlobor #justiceforOlobor #justiceforOlobor #justiceforOlobor

[@BlessedYouTuber]

... because mums are heroes. Quick thinking mu. Let go of kill to lure hyenas away from her cub. She knew she could not defeat the hyenas. 🎉😂❤

[@jonsolo2794]

Cut off too soon. She was calling the reinforcements.

[@SF-pq3sq]

That cub could not of survived that

[@johanrebel]

Here we go again: another glaringly obvious clickbait thumbnail.

[@genxdoom4044]

Very lucky cub