The spotted hyena is the hyena found in the Kruger National Park, where it occurs all over the park. Neither a member of the dog nor the cat family, it belongs to its own family, Hyaenidae, stands about 80 cm at the shoulder and has jaws powerful enough to crush a buffalo’s thigh bone in one movement. A hungry hyena can eat up to a third of its own body weight.
Spotted Hyena
One of the animals you’ll have the opportunity of coming across during a Kruger Park safari is the hyena. These fascinating animals are found all over the park and in this blog we’re going to share some of the must know information.
The Spotted Hyena is the hyena that can be seen in the Kruger National Park. These untidy looking animals are neither a member of the dog or cat family, they are a member of their own family known as, hyaenidae. They stand about 80cm at the shoulder and can weigh more than 60 kg. Their backs are sloping and they have a shaggy unkempt look. Hyena can crush a thigh bone of a buffalo in one movement with their powerful jaws. A hungry hyena can eat up to a third of its own body weight.
The Spotted Hyena usually has two cubs, which are born aggressive. They are born dark brown with their teeth and their eyes open. Cubs are born in a den which the mother digs out and kept there till they are at least three weeks old. After this their fur becomes lighter and they start getting spots.
Hyenas hunt and scavenge at night. Hyena are carnivores, of the opportunistic kind for the best part. If hyena are the dominant predator in an area, they will hunt their own prey, but if there are other predators in an area they tend to scavenge. Fearlessly they will take a chance to grab food away from other predators, often paying with their lives. When hyena hunt, it is generally in packs, cunningly seeking out the weakest in the herd and then isolating it before relentlessly pursuing it over several kilometres, until the prey is totally exhausted. At this stage the pack of hyena pull the animal down and disembowel it. As a pack, hyena will go for the big game, zebra or kudu, but if they are hunting alone, they hunt smaller animals such as baboon or guinea fowl. Lions and Hyena detest each other, and will often kill each other’s cubs or weak ones. As wary as hyena are of lions, they are unafraid of lionesses, and will easily take a kill from a lioness when there are no lions around. Watching the sky for vultures circling a kill, these cunning animals then take off to find the kill. In times of drought, hyena have been seen eating the fish that are dying in the drying up water holes.
Hyena “laugh” hysterically, eerily giggling in an almost human like tone, quite unlike the mighty roar of the lion. In the middle ages it was believed that the hyena would dig up corpses and eat them. In some cultures they are believed to have magical power and belong to witches. It is believed that they are the witch’s cattle and come out at night with the witches. In some folklore, should a child be born at night while a hyena is crying, that child will grow up to be a thief. Another tribe in Africa believes that if you want your child to walk at an early age you need to ensure that the child has hyena dung kept somewhere on their person.
Although they are not always an everyday sighting, the more time you spend in the Kruger, the more opportunities you will have to see them. Book your Kruger National Park safari today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do hyenas hunt or scavenge?
Both — spotted hyenas are opportunistic carnivores that hunt and scavenge at night. Where they are the dominant predator they hunt their own prey, but where other predators are present they tend to scavenge, and they will fearlessly grab food from other predators.
How do spotted hyenas hunt?
Spotted hyenas generally hunt in packs, seeking out the weakest animal in a herd, isolating it and pursuing it over several kilometres until it is exhausted. A pack will tackle big game such as zebra or kudu, while a lone hyena hunts smaller animals such as baboons or guineafowl.
Are hyenas afraid of lions?
Hyenas are wary of lions, and the two detest each other, often killing each other’s cubs or weak individuals. Hyenas are unafraid of lionesses, though, and will readily take a kill from a lioness when no male lions are around.
What sound does a spotted hyena make?
Spotted hyenas are known for their hysterical “laugh” — an eerie giggle in an almost human-like tone that is quite unlike the mighty roar of a lion.
How many cubs does a spotted hyena have?
A spotted hyena usually has two cubs, which are born aggressive and dark brown, with teeth and with their eyes open. They are kept in a den dug by the mother until they are at least three weeks old, after which their fur lightens and spots appear.
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