Hyenas squabble over the last pieces of a wildebeest carcass. When a cub enters the fray, it gets brushed off, showing how difficult it can be for a young hyena to feed in competition with older clanmates. It took the clan about 15 minutes to devour this 500-pound wildebeest, bones and all.
Thunderclouds rolled across Kenya’s Masai Mara savanna as the spotted hyena cubs played, tumbling over each other in the wet grass. The cubs’ mother lounged nearby, rising occasionally to discourage a bigger one-year-old from joining the little play group. When the older animal approached again, one of the pluckier cubs took a cue from its high-ranking mom and stood tall, trying its best to look intimidating. That action seemed comical, but both animals knew their place.
Holekamp, a biologist at Michigan State University, has been studying the African species in the Masai Mara since 1988—one of the longest running investigations of any mammal ever. “I thought I’d be there for two years,” she says, “but I got hooked.” As Wilkinson, Holekamp, and other researchers unravel more about spotted hyenas’ biology and behavior, they continue to upend our understanding of who rules the wild kingdom and how they do it.A lion stands over a fresh carcass while hyenas skulk at the periphery, heads low. The lion has made a kill, and the hyenas are awaiting their chance for scraps, right? Not exactly.
One thing has long been clear: Hyena queens are the “backbone of hyena society,” Holekamp says. Part of that matrilineal dominance is physiological. Both female and male fetuses of higher ranking females are imbued in the womb with a boost of sex hormones such as testosterone, which likely increases aggression.
Females care for their young for several years, longer than any other African predator. During this time, the young hyena’s skull is developing, so it’s unable to hunt and kill large prey. Holekamp theorizes this prolonged dependence may be one reason female hyenas evolved to be more aggressive than males, which play no role in parenting.
When they tallied the results, they were floored. Based on multiple trials, the rural animals were more adept at opening the doors—a measure of innovation—than were the town and city dwellers. This discovery, published in 2021, runs counter to the theory that urban animals are better problem solvers.
Arjun Dheer, a wildlife ecologist and National Geographic Explorer who studied hyenas in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater, is also impressed by the species’ cognitive skills. “When you look at a hyena,” he says, “you can see the wheels turning—there’s a lot going on behind those eyes. We underestimate them.”
In a photo taken with the robot, hyenas feed on a freshly killed wildebeest. Hyenas are both hunters and scavengers, and in the latter role they help remove pathogens such as anthrax and bovine tuberculosis from the ecosystem. Wilkinson steers a beat-up, teal 4x4 through Soysambu Conservancy, a rural area on the outskirts of the Kenyan city of Nakuru.
Wilkinson’s research demonstrates how readily spotted hyenas adapt to living alongside humans and how they can deftly tackle roadblocks, such as finding work-arounds in fences that people rely on to keep them out. While the animals have been known to bite people, these incidents are often related to humans leaving livestock enclosures unsecured or sleeping out in the open. As Wilkinson puts it, conservationists are now “trying to shift the narrative from conflicts to benefits,” which have been historically underrated.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
S&P 500 wavers as PayPal plunge dents financials, but 5,000 mark remains in viewS&P 500 wavers as PayPal plunge dents financials, but 5,000 mark remains in view
Read more »
Stock futures inch lower in overnight trading after S&P 500 touches historic 5,000 mark: Live updatesA solid earnings season, easing inflation data and a resilient economy have powered the market rally into 2024, with the S&P 500 up 4.8% on the year.
Read more »
Fremont police arrest 4 after meth, 500 pounds of copper wire found during traffic stopFour people were arrested in Fremont early Tuesday morning after police said they found methamphetamine, along with hundreds of pounds of copper wire during a traffic stop.
Read more »
Increase of 500 jobs forecasted for Fairbanks job marketManh Choh Mine and federal funds expected to provide employment boost in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Read more »
'Rich Dad Poor Dad' Author Kiyosaki Warns: Prepare for 70% Collapse of S&P500Renowned author and Bitcoin advocate Robert Kiyosaki issues dire warning: Brace yourselves for potential 70% collapse of S&P 500 index
Read more »
2024 DAYTONA 500 - February 18, 2024View 2024 DAYTONA 500 race, qualifier and practice leaderboards, live streams, bonus cameras, videos and odds information.
Read more »