A hungry hyena in South Africa was spotted with a striking and audacious catch, making off with a decapitated lion’s head, raising questions about the circumstances of this unusual and daring feat in the wild

Hyenas are known for stealing their food but this one has taken scavenging to the next level – by picking up a dead lion’s head.

The creature was spotted in the Kruger National Park, South Africa making his way with the unusual snack locked between his jaws.

This gruesome scene was captured by a married couple, Lara and JP van der Bergh, who were on holiday at the park which spans 7,523 square miles.

The lion’s head, with the eyes removed, appears to be rotting inside indicating it could have been dead and decaying for some time before the hyena made his discovery.

Hyenas are skilled hunters that catch prey with their teeth rather than claws. They often bring down wilderbeast or antelope and also kill and eat lizards, snakes and insects.

But they are also scavengers and are known to drive larger predators away from their kills, eating their food quickly or even storing it for later.