Do hyenas deserve their bad rep?
Text and images by Alan Hewitt
A villain born from folklore
For many people, their introduction to spotted hyenas came straight from popular culture, especially Disney’s The Lion King. It portrayed them as cruel and cowardly scavengers. It’s not a modern concept though.
In 1790, the Scottish explorer James Bruce looked back at centuries of bizarre folklore surrounding the hyena and noted this trend. He wrote: “There are few animals, whose history has passed under the consideration of naturalists, that have given occasion to so much confusion and equivocation as the Hyena has done. It began very early among the ancients, and the moderns have fully contributed their share.”
The truth about how hyenas hunt
The biggest misconception by far is that spotted hyenas are just lazy scavengers living off the leftovers of leopards and lions. In reality, wildlife biology shows they are phenomenal, highly successful apex predators. They actually hunt and kill the vast majority of their own prey. They are endurance hunters, using teamwork to run down prey over massive distances. Ironically, the real-life dynamic is often completely reversed. It is actually lions that frequently use their brute strength to bully hyenas and steal their hard-earned food.
Researchers have found that spotted hyenas have a highly developed frontal cortex, giving them a level of problem-solving intelligence that rivals some primates. They live in complex, female-led societies that hold a strict clan hierarchy requiring strategic alliances, and mastering a huge vocabulary of sounds. Even their famous “laughter” — it just isn’t that at all. It is a complex, nuanced way of communicating stress.
What you’ll actually see on safari
Out on safari, spending time with a hyena clan is often the unexpected highlight of a trip. Watching fluffy, curious cubs tumble and play outside a communal den, or witnessing the expressive way adults interact with each other will completely change your perspective. They are inquisitive, fiercely protective parents, and utterly vital to a healthy ecosystem. Instead of writing them off as villains, we should really appreciate their natural history success story.
Photograph hyenas in Lemek Conservancy
If you’re keen to come and observe hyenas for yourself, and you’re a keen photographer, you can join Alan Hewitt on a photo safari in Lemek Conservancy. Together with fellow wildlife photographer Kaleel Zibe, Alan runs regular photographic safaris that allow photographers of all levels to witness the Maasai Mara through a photographers’ eye and come away with some amazing shots. Obviously you can expect to photograph a whole bunch more predators and other wildlife, including big cats, elephants, and a vast array of antelope and smaller (but no less photogenic) species. Alan’s next Maasai Mara photo safari departs 26th August 2027, with both 7-night and 11-night options available. Full details and booking enquiries at africanphotographysafaris.com.