It was our first night on safari with our three years old daughter…
Winter at the Kruger National Park in South Africa can be relatively cold and dry, which is especially hard for herbivores desperately looking to munch on grass and leaves. Our camp, situated at the vicinity of a watering hole, provided fantastic views of elephants, antelopes and even herds of over 400 buffalos day and night!!!
But it was our first night, while we sat for dinner at the boma when my daughter spotted a pack of hyenas 10 meters from our table! At first, I thought they were lions as I could only get a glimpse while the rangers sent them away…
For a second, I questioned my sanity, but seeing those rangers chasing a whole pack of hyenas as if they were merely cats, made me ponder whether these animals resembled at all the evil-laughed, gluttonous scavengers that most of us grew up thinking they are…After some research and conversations with conservationists and rangers, I learned a few things that completely changed my perception of hyenas.
Here five facts about one of the most misunderstood members of the animal kingdom:
1. Although they resemble to dogs, they are more closely related to cats! Hyenas are large, strong, carnivores that hunt a wide range of prey but mostly feed on carrion (the kills of other predators).
2. There are four species of hyena two of which are considered at risk (stripped hyena and brown hyena) and one is in decline (spotted hyena). According to the IUCN, the main reason behind their population decline is humans (no surprise here!): Poisoning, decreasing sources of carrion due to declines in the populations of other large carnivores and their prey, as well as changes in livestock practices are their main threats.
3. Hyenas are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. Considered as smart as some primates, like chimpanzees, hyenas live in complex social unities called clans of over 80 members and work in teams to hunt zebras and wildebeests.
4. Hyena cubs stick close to their mothers. They usually bear litters of two to four cubs. Cubs begin to eat meat from kills near the den at about five months, but they are suckled for as long as 12 to 18 months — an unusually long time for carnivores. [1]
5. Hyenas possess unique immune systems that allow them to withstand diseases that kill other animals. Some scientists believe that studies of their immune system could provide us with clues to fight some human diseases.
It is not too late to help clean hyena’s reputation for the next generations to come. You can learn more about hyenas and their conservation status here and here.