5 Facts That Change the Perception of Hyenas (16 photos)

To the average person, a hyena is a laughing scavenger dog, rather pitiful-looking and, if you believe the cartoons, possessing the vile disposition of a petty villain. But in reality, it's a dangerous and highly intelligent predator, combining the aggression of a wild cat, the sociability of a monkey, and a rather distorted sense of masculinity and femininity.





Where did you get those boilers? General's ones? Go ahead and take them off!

Fact One: Hyenas are Africa's top predators.

Smaller hyena species feed almost exclusively on carrion, and sometimes even switch to insects. But the spotted hyena is a special case. This fast and strong animal, weighing between 60 and 90 kilograms, is powerful enough to tear floorboards and break down solid wood doors with seemingly no effort! And its powerful jaws are capable of not only crushing the bones of dead animals but also breaking the necks of medium-sized predators, such as dogs.



There it is, an open and honest smile!

Of course, even a large spotted hyena can never take on a lion alone. But a hyena is never alone. Behind it is a pack of up to 80 individuals. Such gangs are avoided not only by solitary lions, but by entire prides!





The lioness went hunting alone and thereby made a huge mistake.



And occasionally, during times of food shortage, powerful wall-to-wall confrontations with lions occur.

Hyenas themselves are excellent at exploiting their numbers. They form well-coordinated groups that hunt not only antelope, but also buffalo, giraffes, and young elephants. In other words, hyenas are full-fledged and serious competitors to lions, whose diet can consist of 95% fresh meat. Although it must be admitted that they simply adore carrion!



Hyenas also have a nasty habit of eating their prey while it's still alive.

Fact Two: Female hyenas oppress males

To be such tough and aggressive predators, hyenas need high hormone levels, as they influence reaction speed, metabolic rate, and, of course, muscle mass. But females go a bit overboard: their testosterone levels are three times higher than those of males!



Hey, boy! Whose handsome one are you?

They're not just stronger and bigger, they behave completely differently. Spotted females are much more likely to intervene in conflicts within the pack, even if it doesn't affect them personally. They actively support their mates and form coalitions within the pack, while the more inert males usually remain in the background. But what's surprising is that despite the absolute physical superiority of females, social mobility is not closed to males. After all, hyenas value sociability and the ability to find allies more than pure strength.

Sometimes, albeit very rarely, men not only rise to the top of the hyena hierarchy but also become pack leaders. And all thanks to the protection of their sisters, mother, and their girlfriends!

Fact Three: Childbirth for hyenas is a nightmare.

Female hyenas pay a high price for their toughness and aggressiveness – testosterone not only allows them to build muscle but also alters their reproductive organs, making them very similar to those of males. Zen and human morality prohibit us from showing certain photos, but they do not prevent us from saying that the female genitalia protrude significantly and are larger than those of males.



Is it considered matriarchy when the female resembles the male much more than the male himself?

This structure, on the one hand, allows them to exercise ritual dominance over lower-ranking hyenas. On the other hand, it makes childbirth a deadly and extremely traumatic experience for both mother and offspring. Observations show that up to 20% of mothers die during their first birth. And up to 60% of babies are stillborn. Hyenas probably have the most difficult births of any mammal.



Oh, dinner just came.

Fact four: Hyena babies hate each other

But the young hyena cubs are born very strong. Each weighs 1.5 kilograms, is covered in short fur, looks at the world with wide eyes, and bares a full set of baby teeth, including half-centimeter-long fangs. And as soon as the cubs come to their senses, as soon as the female finishes licking them, the brothers and sisters turn on each other. And they fight with all their might.



This self-assured wonder is a few-day-old hyena cub.



And this is a wolf cub, a few days old. Feel the difference.

Two cubs of equal strength have no chance of killing each other, but weaker cubs don't always survive past their first month. Statistically, about a quarter of all cubs die at the fangs of their siblings.



— Yes, kids, the last time I came to feed you, there were eight of you...

And girls usually bully girls, and boys bully boys. However, hyenas treat relatives of the opposite sex much better. Sisters almost never argue with their brothers, and brothers are always ready to support them in an argument. And it's even... cute?



When the most scandalous family in the photo pretends everything is fine.

Fact Five: Hyenas Are Man's Best Friend!

Despite all the horrors described above, hyenas get along surprisingly well with humans. Because of their habit of scavenging, they aren't particularly picky about food, and they have a naturally strong immune system. These predators also easily become accustomed to humans and can even learn to read our nonverbal cues. This is due to the structure of their packs, which is built on sociality and connections, not just brute force – just like primates!



I'll eat meat from human hands, what could go wrong?

Therefore, it's quite possible to befriend hyenas, keep them as pets, and even teach them a few tricks! Just remember that they are wild animals with very strong instincts, which can easily undo years of training.



Hello!



My man!

But this high level of mutual understanding has a downside – hyenas are settling in cities. It's estimated that up to 1,500 hyenas live in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia! And in Harar, a city in the eastern part of the metropolitan area, they've even become a real tourist attraction! Hyenas primarily feed on garbage dumps, but sometimes snack on cats, dogs, and livestock. There have also been several recorded attacks on sleeping people. When living with hyenas, you always have to be on your guard!



Night. Street. Streetlight. Hyena.