Hyenas: More Than Just Scavengers – The Untold Truth About These Creatures

Hyenas in the Serengeti meadows in Africa, home to various animals such as gazelles, zebras, cheetahs, and lions, continue to steal prey from these predators for their food. We often describe hyenas as sneaky, ruthless animals that covet what others have, but they also turn out to provide unexpected help to humans. Let’s explore the true nature of hyenas that we didn’t know about.

Hyena Appearance

First, let’s look at the appearance of a hyena. Hyenas weigh between 22 and 176 pounds, and females are larger than males. They have long legs with only four toes on each foot and different front and hind leg lengths. They have robust teeth and a strong jaw capable of crushing large bones, and their tails are fluffy and their ears round, making them look cute at first glance.

Hyena Habits

Hyenas rest in burrows or forests during the day and become active at night. They usually steal food from predators, such as lions, cheetahs, and eagles, but they also frequently eat rotten meat or the carcasses left behind by large carnivores. When rotten meat or small animals are scarce, they have been known to attack goats, sheep, and young livestock.

Scavengers of the Grassland

Did you know that hyenas surprisingly help humans? Another name for hyenas is the scavengers of the grassland, as they consume dead bodies, preventing diseases from spreading uncontrollably in the animal world. According to a study, hyenas dispose of 456,357 pounds of animal carcasses yearly, revealing the tremendous value of their cleanup effect.

They Don’t Just Eat Dead Animals

Hyenas don’t just prey on the dead. Hyenas are exceptional and courageous hunters who hunt for 70 percent of their food alone. They boast strong stamina and endurance, their greatest strengths, and they hunt in packs, using their incredible sense of smell to catch prey much larger than themselves.

Hyenas Have Robust Digestive Systems

Hyenas consume not only rotten carcasses but also bones without leaving anything behind. They don’t get sick from eating rotten carcasses due to a special digestive fluid produced in their stomachs. Their strong stomach acid makes it possible to digest almost any food against food-poisoning bacteria.

The Creepy Sound of Hyenas

People often compare hyenas’ laughing sound to a devil’s laughter because they make creepy and weird noises. The unique ‘giggling’ sound of hyenas is known to be used when sharing food with other hyenas, and when threatening opponents, they don’t just growl but also bark. Because of these creepy laughing sounds, the term ‘hyena,’ which refers to cruel or greedy people, is used in the West.

The Leader is a Female

Hyenas live in large groups, or clans, of up to 90 individuals. The leader of the clan is a female, which is larger than the males. The order in which they eat the hunted prey is female-first, and adult males from other groups can only mate with other females with the permission of the leading female. This status is directly passed down to the female offspring.

It’s Impossible to Distinguish Between Male and Female Hyenas

While there are various hyenas, the spotted hyena has surprising features. It’s difficult to distinguish between males and females just by their appearance. Their body sizes are similar, and both males and females have male genitals. Zoologists have yet to explain why female hyenas have such genitals.

Hyenas Were Edible

Ancient Egyptians raised hyenas for consumption. However, people stopped seeking them because of the risk and low feed efficiency of keeping them as livestock. Also, in ancient Egyptian culture, animals were deified, but hyenas, consumed as food, were not.

Hyenas and African Wild Dogs Are Different

Hyenas and African wild dogs are distinctly different. African wild dogs, like hyenas, also have strong social behaviors and are skilled at pack hunting. African wild dogs are a bit smaller than hyenas, but their ears are larger, and their bodies have more irregular spots than hyenas. The robust jaw and four toes, which evolved for hunting, are common to hyenas.

By. Oh Hye In