This is the moment a hyena enjoyed the last laugh as it managed to escape the clutches of a snarling pack of wild dogs – by leaping in to a river.

The hyena had been chased down to a stretch of water at Sabie Sand game reserve in South Africa and looked doomed as it was surrounded by the hunters.

But it lashed out at the pack animals before making a dart for the river – and waited in the water while the dogs disappeared.

Fighting back: A hyena had the last laugh after escaping the clutches of a snarling pack of wild dogs having been cornered near a river

Stand off: The hyena made a break for freedom after being surrounded by the wild dogs at Sabie Sand game reserve in South Africa

Escape: The hyena launched a fight back and lashed out at the pack animals before making a dart for the river – and waited in the water while the dogs disappeared

Thanks to their fear of water, the dogs were unable to follow the hyena in and eventually gave up the chase, slinking off to find their dinner elsewhere.

The dramatic scene was captured on camera by 56-year-old Marc Mol, an Australian wildlife photographer based in Laufen, Switzerland.

Mr Mol said: ‘The cackling and laughing sounds of the hyena, coupled with the snarls of the dog squadron were amazing to watch.

‘The scene had eight wild dogs terrorising a lone hyena and while normally encounters like this are very fleeting, this one lasted for ages.

‘The hyena was trapped by high ground on one side and water on the other, with the dogs bearing in from all other angles.

Last stand: The dramatic scene was captured on camera by Marc Mol, 56, an Australian wildlife photographer based in Laufen, Switzerland

Surrounded: The hyena had been chased down to a stretch of water at Sabie Sand game reserve in South Africa and looked doomed as it was cornered by the hunters

Taking the plunge: Thanks to their fear of water, the dogs were unable to follow the hyena in and eventually gave up the chase before slinking off to find their dinner elsewhere

Lashing out: The hyena was trapped by high ground on one side and water on the other, with the dogs ‘bearing in from all other angles’

‘At one stage the hyena viciously bit down on the neck of one wild dog and it let out an almighty howl, but the dogs wore it down by repeatedly biting it’s behind.

‘Eventually, the hyena thought it was better taking its chances with the gaping jaws of the hippo and sat it out in the water.

‘Wild dogs have a massive fear of the water as they associate it with crocodiles, so they kept their distance and eventually got bored an slunk away to find something else to eat.’