Before visiting Africa, international guests only experience of this animal,
might be as one of the trio in Disney's "The Lion King".
That being said, this misunderstood, social animal is much more than the villain of the bush.
For too long it has been painted as a skulking, thieving, somewhat cowardly beast.
The variety of vocalizations that the Hyena makes is not random.
The pitch and tone can give an idea of their age and social standing within a group(clan).
These creatures can be found during game drives
from both the Pilanesberg and Pretoriuskop Tented Adventure camp sites
Never heard them?
Listen to the some of the sounds that they make:
There is a lot of play fighting to establish dominance that occurs within a clan.
Ernest Hemingway did NOT like Hyenas.
In"Green Hills of Africa" he describes them as follows...
"Fisi, the hyena,hermaphroditic,self-eating devourer of the dead, trailer of calving cows, ham-stringer, potential biter-off of your face at night while you slept,
sad yowler, camp-follower, stinking, foul,with jaws that crack the bones the lion leaves,
belly dragging,loping away on the brown plains..."
The "death squad"...Hyenas and Vultures can often be found on the periphery of a kill,
awaiting an opportunity to steal part or all of it from other predators.
Although they are seen as scavengers, 95% of their food comes from their own hunting.
Hyena are the second most successful hunters.
Top spot belongs to the Wild Dog.
The mortal enemy of the Hyena is the Lion.
Leopard will take their prey into a tree and hyenas are not designed to climb.
Lions on the other hand, tend to get into constant battles with them at kills.
There have been recorded cases where a pride of lions has killed both
the matriarch and the eldest daughter of a hyena clan that
had continually pestered them at kills.
Hyenas only have two nipples, but can have more than two cubs.
The weaker ones will die as they will not be nursed by other clan females.
Should the surviving cubs both be female, then the stronger will kill the weaker.
The clan is ruled by a matriarch and even the female cubs will control the males.
If the matriarch dies or is killed, then her eldest daughter will inherit her title.
Even at this age, tiny teeth can do a lot of damage, and vehicles on game drives
often become the target. Plastic tow hitch covers seem to be a favourite.
Fact: Female Hyenas have three times as much testosterone as their male counterparts!
It does not matter that this water source it not crystal clear.
This particular animal first slaked its thirst, then lay down to cool off.
In Tanzania it is said that witches ride hyenas,
while in Ethiopia myth has it that particular individuals can morph into this creature.
Female hyenas have a pseudo-penis which often gives rise to the statement
that these creatures are hermaphroditic.
This can cause some consternation in trying to distinguish males from females.
It also gives the Hyena the dubious distinction of being the only mammal
where the female of the species does not have any external genitalia.
Unfortunately for this youngster, the Hyena's passion
for eating almost anything has backfired.
You can clearly see the rock that has wedged itself up against the palate.
If it is unable to dislodge the offending stone, it might cause the death of this individual
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Tented Adventures recently won a Lilizela Tourism award!
Well done to all concerned.
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