Spotted Hyena and Cubs

7 responses to “Spotted Hyena and Cubs”

1. 

   jurvetson

   May 2, 2012 at 4:43 pm

   three cubs nursing… it’s unusual to see all three survive this long:
   

   Another tender moment
   
   Normally the hyena will have twins, and one of the cubs will survive. Perhaps she has adopted a third, as this one looks smaller and has not yet found its spots.

   The young cub exits the den
   

   Interesting creatures:

   "The hyena’s front legs are longer than their back legs, similar to a bear. There are several differences between the spotted hyena and other types of hyenas. The female spotted hyena is larger than her male counterparts. While in the womb, males and females are both exposed to testosterone from the mother. This is very unusual, as in most species, sex-related hormones are delivered to creatures from their own bodies, as their sexual organs develop. As they age, the female spotted hyenas’ testosterone level goes down, but they are still more aggressive than the males. Some scientists believe that other hormones, such as androstenedione, a precursor hormone that can develop into either estrogen or testosterone, also play a part in the female spotted hyena’s dominant behavior. This strange hormonal balance makes the spotted hyena a very interesting subject for endocrinologists and biologists. In other species of hyena the male is larger than the female, and dominant.

   The spotted hyena is considered to be near the same level as some primates in terms of their social intelligence. They are organized into a matriarchal social structure of related individuals called clans. There is one alpha female who leads the clan.

   Males will not consume prey until females have had their fill. The most dominant male will wait for the most junior female to eat, without challenging her.

   The females usually have litters of twins usually at the mouth of burrows too small for the mother to enter. The small size of the burrow protects the young from lions and other predators. The female hyena will call the cubs to come to the mouth of the burrow to nurse.

   The hearty, spotted hyena can go up to several days without water. They can also eat up to 1/3 of their own body weight in one feeding.

   Hyenas are well-known for their powerful jaws, sharp teeth and bone crushing abilities. With a pressure of 800 kg, a hyena’s jaws are more powerful than a lion’s or a tiger’s. They consume all of the body parts of their prey. Spotted hyenas are not usually scavengers, unlike other hyenas. They hunt and kill their prey. They are good pack-hunters and they work together in groups called clans. They have been known to steal bits of a lion’s kill. Their bold behavior has led them at times, to feed right next to lions. (source)

   In Botswana, we saw a pack of hyenas try to do just that with a lion’s kill.

   Reply
2. 

   solerena

   May 2, 2012 at 6:16 pm

   Very interesting summary and babies are sooo sweet:) female leadership in action…

   Reply
3. 

   drona

   May 2, 2012 at 6:56 pm

   Fabulous shots…that baby looks like a cat…a mate for your kittens? Wondering if they’re hypoallergenic….if so they would be more like dogs!

   Reply
4. 

   jitze

   May 2, 2012 at 7:41 pm

   It’s not a dog and it’s not a cat – local folklore (Kigezi district of Uganda) has it that in the beginning of time, a Jackal (member of dog family) was seduced by a wicked wicked Caracal (member of the cat family) and that dalliance produced the Hyena. (Variants of the story blame the Civet or the Genet as the seducing party, but neither of these is technically a cat…). As punishment for this cross-species fornication, &deity; caused the offspring to inherit only the bad characteristics and none of the more noble or admirable ones of the two parents. ("visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children" as the Old Testament reliably informs us)….

   He’s probably not hypoallergenic – that would give him a positive characteristic….

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5. 

   rass999 denis laframboise

   May 2, 2012 at 7:56 pm

   Wow super cool….this guy is looking at me right in the eyes.
   I sent you photo number 5 at your work.

   denis

   Reply
6. 

   seatonsnet

   May 3, 2012 at 9:21 am

   Even Hyenas are cute and cuddly. I’ll be damned.

   Reply
7. 

   TomiTapio

   May 27, 2012 at 12:26 pm

   Good one.

   Reply