[Sharon]

Worth a read before commenting

"Some time ago i posted a somewhat bloody image of a Hyena with a young Impala lamb in his jaws and asked you whether i should post this and even more brutally honest pictures about the "Survival of the fittest" and a clear majority of you said yes it should be shown.

This scene is probably the most shocking and emotionally difficult scene i have ever witnessed in nature. This young elephant got stuck in mud and was abondoned by his parents. Hyenas found it and started to eat it alive. The calf could obviously not move and the hyenas started at the trunk and ate it and most of the head skin and meat, before we finally convinced a ranger to put the calf to sleep, obviously against all rules and regulations not to intervene. It suffered for many hours before it was finally released of his tragic fate.

We only found the elephant at a time when the trunk was already eaten and I could only "handle" to take a few photographs. At this stage it was already too late for the calf. But it did not let go....

About 2 hours later the elephant was still alive and at that time the hyenas had already eaten the eyes and skinned his skull completely. The calf kept fighting and continously called for help...

It is nature in its true honesty. The hyenas are just fighting for their own survival and feel no wrong doing..."

The photo (2002) comes from wildlife photographer Michael Poliza.

The awful everyday reality of nature

[Mr. Gryme]

Wow............thanks for looking out MOM. Way to hang in there.

[Sharon]

Wonder where his mum was? Perhaps she assessed the situation as a risk to herself? Horrible

[mrsandman187]

nature can be very brutal. i understand not to get involved, but being a hunter myself, i would have put one in the baby elephants head, so that it may suffer no more.

[souris]

weird it would get stuck in mud. weird it would be abandoned by its parents. weird.

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by mrsandman187 ↗

nature can be very brutal. i understand not to get involved, but being a hunter myself, i would have put one in the baby elephants head, so that it may suffer no more.

Exactly, immediately!! The hyena would still eat him surely?

[FrightRat]

Ouch, nature's not kind.
Glad they eventually convinced a ranger to shoot the poor thing.

But hey, at least the hyenas got a good meal, I guess it's pretty rare for them to find so much fresh meat.

[elove1018]

Weird, an Elephant mom would abandon her young.

[Rusty666]

circle of life

[Sisteskrik]

wtg mom & dad!