Loving Hyenas

Even if you’ve never been to Africa, you probably have an opinion about hyenas. They are ugly, vicious, greedy, dull scavengers. Or are you one of those rare humans who loves hyenas for their fascinating social structure and impressive features. You might even discover they are the most interesting mammals on the African plains.

Did you know there are four different types of hyenas?

The striped hyena is mostly found in Northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

The brown hyena lives in Southern Africa, mainly in the dry areas of Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. In Namibia, they are called strand loopers because they are hunting on the beach.

The spotted hyena is famous for its whooping calls and laughs.

Maned hyena, better known as the aardwolf. Feeds mostly on insects, especially termites. They are the smallest of the four but can double in size when scared. By raising their hair.

And did you know that hyenas are excellent hunters?

Most people think of them as cowardly scavengers. Lurking in the shadows, stealing food from lions and leopards. That’s only half the story. Like any predator, a hyena will never pass by a free meal. But hyenas, especially the spotted ones, are very skilled hunters.

Studies have shown that 70-90 percent of their food comes from hunting. They can easily take down a wildebeest or a zebra by themselves. If they band together, even buffalo or giraffe can be on the dinner menu. Their powerful jaws are as strong as those of brown bears.