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Hyenas and vultures battle over an elephant carcass – Maasai Mara 2024

Hyenas and vultures battle over an elephant carcass. An elephant carcass in the Mara North Conservancy in Kenya’s Maasai Mara had been a magnet for scavengers for a day or two. Hyenas and vultures were ever present. It was remarkable to see the hyenas entering the body cavity of the elephant and emerging looking rather messy. There was a lot of squabbling between the hyenas and vultures despite the plentiful supply of food. The sights, sounds and smells of this scene as hyenas and vultures battle over an elephant carcass were absorbing to watch. The number of flies buzzing around the carcass was very impressive. Certainly it was necessary to position the vehicle upwind of the carcass because the stench was truly dreadful. The elephant had died of natural causes.