Today’s International Hyena Day and it’s time to appreciate their value.
Disney might have us believe that hyenas are brainless, cackling lunatics salivating over their next meal and doing no good whatsoever, but they actually contribute significantly to their environment, and bear with us, but they’re really quite sweet!
There are three species of hyena in the subfamily Hyaenidae, these are the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) and the brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea). They also have a close cousin in the aardwolf (Proteles cristata). We’re fortunate enough to have three of them in the areas we operate, the exception being the striped which occurs elsewhere in Africa and beyond.
It’s likely to be the spotted hyena that first springs to mind for most people. They’re particularly known for their vocalisations which sound like laughter and most often occur with excitement of stress. These are the largest of the species and have a distinctive spotted coat. Those hoping for a spotted sighting would do well to visit our Khwai Private Reserve lodges in Botswana: Tuludi, Sable Alley, Little Sable, Elephant Pan or Skybeds. However, a healthy African wild dog population also tends to be a good indicator of their presence – the dogs are such effective hunters that they attract the attentions of hyenas and vultures who look to benefit from a successful hunt.
The brown hyena is a more solitary creature. They’re shaggy and endearingly shy, quiet animals. Spend time with a brown hyena and you’re sure to develop a soft spot for them. While their spotted associates are thriving, these delightful animals are unfortunately classed as Near Threatened but our guests are still in with a good chance of seeing them. The Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana are particularly good for brown hyenas, so booking a room at Jack’s Camp, San Camp or Camp Kalahari would be a good move. Alternatively, you could swap salt pans for sand dunes and head to Namibia. Hoanib Valley Camp, Kwessi Dunes and sometimes even Shipwreck Lodge can prove fruitful for brown hyena sightings.
Smaller and more timid than their close relatives, the aardwolf is vulnerable to larger predators and thus is cautious. Its name translates as ‘earth wolf’ in Afrikaans and they feed primarily on termites. The aardwolf is even trickier to find than its brown cousin, but once again we can help, because they’re frequently sighted from Tawana, our lodge in Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve as well as in the Makgadikgadi Pans.
The Hyaenidae are sometimes painted as nothing but scavengers who are damaging to the ecosystems they live in. Far from being pests in these areas though, Hyaenidae make a positive impact on their environment. For starters, they provide a very efficient cleaning service. They’re absolutely brilliant at clearing the ecosystem of carcasses or infirm animals. In doing so, they help to recycle nutrients and stop disease spreading. They also hate waste – while other predators pick and choose what they consume, the hyenas eat everything except the hair. All this bone they’ve eaten creates calcium compounds in their stools providing further nutrition for other animals who can’t eat bones themselves but can devour hyaena poo! Aardwolves meanwhile keep termite populations in check, thus protecting agricultural land from the damage they incur.
So if you’re lucky enough to find yourself at a hyena sighting, take a moment to appreciate the good they’re doing – they’re integral threads within Mother Nature’s rich tapestry.
