Laikipia Animals- Spotted Hyena

The weekend drive through the Laikipia escarpment was worth the 213km it took to go from Rumuruti to Nanyuki. The area began with green hills that looked like something from a story book. And gradually changed into bush country. Dry bushy with acacia trees that often left one with the wonderful feeling of just how big and beautiful Kenya really is.

But nothing had prepared us for what this beautiful landscape had to offer. I was made aware of the fact here animals tend to roam free protected from the onslought of civilization. Already we could see the peace and harmony between the the cattle hearding Maasai and the animals we met on the road. In some places you would see Impala grazing peacefuly next to herd of cows without a care in the world. But this is a topic for another day....We met some amazing animals and my prize animal was the spotted hyena.

About The spotted hyena
Spotted hyaenas are the most abundant large carnivore in Africa. Although they occur throughout sub-Saharan Africa, their density varies widely among different habitats, but high densities occur in the Serengeti ecosystem, including Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, and in the Aberdare Mountains of Kenya.The spotted hyaena also inhabits semi-desert habitat, swamp and marshy areas, open woodland, dense dry woodland, and montane forest up to 4,000 m altitude. It is absent from or occurs in only very low densities in tropical rainforests and along coast.

Of the three species of hyena in Africa, only the spotted hyena and the shy and much rarer, striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) are found in East Africa. The smaller, and even shyer brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea) occurs only in southern Africa. Different from most other animals, female spotted hyenas are dominant over the males and outweigh them by about 3 pounds.

It is difficult to distinguish male and female hyenas by observation in the field. They are not hermaphrodites (having both male and female sexual organs), nor can they change their sex at will, as many people believe. Although the external female genitalia have a superficial similarity to those of the male, they are nonetheless female organs and only the females bear and nurse young. Why the female hyena developed in this manner is not known, but it may have been necessary for them to appear large and strong to protect their young from males, as hyenas have cannibalistic tendencies.

Spotted hyenas are organized into territorial clans of related individuals that defend their home ranges against intruding clans. The center of clan activity is the den, where the cubs are raised and individuals meet. The den is usually situated on high ground in the central part of the territory. Its above-ground entrances are connected to a series of underground tunnels.

i must interrupt here and point out that our hyena was alone and being that they live in clans getting out of the car to take this photo was a seriously silly move

Hyenas mark and patrol (i cannot be exactly sure what this one was doing) their territories by depositing a strong-smelling substance produced by the anal glands on stalks of grass along the boundaries. "Latrines," places where members of a clan deposit their droppings, also mark territories. The high mineral content of the bones hyenas consume make their droppings a highly visible, chalky white. Hyenas are social animals that communicate with one other through specific calls, postures and signals. They quickly make their various intentions known to other members of the clan, or to outsiders. When a hyena's tail is carried straight, for example, it signals attack. When it is held up and forward over the back, the hyena is extremely excited. In contrast, it hangs down when the hyena is standing or walking leisurely. If frightened, the hyena tucks its tail between the legs and flat against the belly and usually skulks away.                

[quick facts: These animals live in social groups called clans that defend group territories. The society is characterised by a strict dominance hierarchy.Females are dominant over males, and even the lowest ranking female is dominant to the highest ranking male.Spotted hyaenas live in a "fission-fusion" society, so clan members do not remain together continuously, but instead frequently forage alone or in small groups. Clan members co-operate in communal defence of the territory, of food resources, and the clan den. As with many monkeys and apes, female spotted hyaena cubs normally acquire dominance immediately below that of their mother. "Social politics" among clan members are very important in hyaena society, with individuals regularly forging alliances and coalitions. Overall, spotted hyaena society is characterised by its flexible nature, as demonstrated by impressive variation in group size, territorial behaviour, foraging tactics, and nursing behaviour.]

The spotted hyena is a skillful hunter but also a scavenger. Truly an opportunistic feeder, it selects the easiest and most attractive food it may ignore fresh carrion and bones if there is, for example, an abundance of vulnerable wildebeest calves. It consumes animals of various types and sizes (including domestic stock and even other hyenas), carrion, bones, vegetable matter and other animals' droppings. The powerful jaws and digestive tract of the hyena allow it to process and obtain nutrients from skin and bones. The only parts of

prey not fully digested are hair, horns and hooves; these are regurgitated in the form of pellets. As hyenas hunt mostly at night and devour all parts, little evidence remains of their actual meals. Although they eat a lot of dry bones, they need little water.

There you have it. That is the story about our hyena. It is a beautiful animal that deserves alot of our respect. And remember animals can also be dangerous. So take care.

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