This is the moment an a leopard and a hyena had a power lunch of a very different kind.

The two hungry beasts engaged in an epic tug of war over a zebra carcass after the big cat killed it, but found its prey too heavy to drag back to his tree.

A small pack of crafty hyenas smelt the carcass, and after baring its teeth and growling at the leopard, one decided to cheekily sneak a few bites.

After a violent half hour tussle, the leopard was victorious and dragged his kill away so he could finally feast in peace.

The culinary tug-of-war was captured at the Masaï Mara Game Reserve, Kenya, by photographers Laurent Renaud and Dominique Haution.

Mr Renaud, a 55-year-old teacher from France, said ‘It was exceptional’ to see the food fight, which is a rare sight.

He said: ‘The leopard had killed a young zebra but it was impossible to carry it up into his tree.

‘Several hyenas were attracted to the smell and at first the leopard gave up and walked away.

‘He then came back and wanted to carry the kill away but the hyenas weren’t going to give up without a fight.’

Mr Renaud said after 30 minutes of ‘vicious pulling and gnashing of teeth’ the leopard was victorious and strode away.