I have seen hundreds of hyenas in my time and I think they are quite cute but I saw the most strangest and ugliest looking hyena ever, during a game drive in the Kwando concession. It reminded me of an Ork from Lord of The Rings.

To make matters worse, this lone hyena got a good hiding from the Lagoon pack of wild dogs (it was trying to follow the dogs when they were on a hunt). See link to some of the pictures.

Does anyone have a photo of a stranger looking hyena?

http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/Slides...localeid=en_GB

Aw Gaurang, he's beautiful!

I do have a picture of one, actually, but it was so under-exposed I didn't bother to scan it. I will try to find the slide for you to see if I can resurrect the image.

John

Aside from looks, the hyena-wild dog interaction was interesting. I agree this hyena has a more menacing air about him.

John - beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I look forward to the picture. Maybe we should have an ugly hyena competition?

Lynn, it was quite interesting. The hyena was following the dogs from a distance. We only spotted the hyena when the dogs went for it. It wasn't much of a fair fight - 6 dogs versus 1 hyena. From the pictures, you can see the hyena backing into a bush to protect its hind quarters. In the end, the hyena ran away as soon as it had an escape route.

The previous day in Kwando, I had an even more amazing sighting - 16 dogs (Selinda pack) versus 10 hyenas. The dogs had taken down an adult Kudu and the hyenas were trying to steal it. But with both of these interactions, I think I captured more on video than on stills (but I haven't checked the video yet!!!).

Good idea, Gaurang, but sorry, my pic is unsalvageable. You'll just have to take my word for it...mine was the scungiest, most scrofulous hyena I've ever seen, and every bit more beautiful than your specimen

You've got some nice shots of the interaction there. I've seen two similar interactions but didn't have the good fortune to get photos. One was just after sunset when we saw a hyena watching us have our sundowners...it was close to the Selinda wild dog den, and one dog stood nose-to-nose (inches apart) with the hyena and told it to take a detour.

John

I thought my hyena mug was ugly, but your's takes the cake. At least mine had a beautiful coat, your's...well, it's just ugly!

How many people actually like hyenas and think they are magnificent, even beautiful, creatures? My wife and I do-- she used to think they were awful, until she saw them close up.

John

Agree with your wife John, after seeing so many close up hyenas in Kruger, they became my second favorite animal (after elephants) and I could watch them all day.

Awww!...he's not ugly, just different!


I'm another hyena fan...especially love the cubs and the whole hyena social interaction with each other.

Thanks, Gaurang ........ i hate Hyenas too (especially the Lebala ones that keep getting in the face of the two cheetah boys .....)good to see the hyena/dog interaction and your pics bring out the best of it .......

It's a pity that the Selinda pack split up again this year and now had only two pups this year. 11 adults and two pups.

I have a picture of the old one eyed hyena from Lebala. The really grotesque one. From memory, i think Spencer mentioned that she died of old age near camp last year at some stage ........ will try and put up a picture of her over the weekend. But, you may have seen pics of her in that Africa Geographic magazine (dogs vs hyena interaction) pics by Christophe.

Rgds,
Hari

Great pics Gaurang, I always love to see the species interactions.

I am definitely a big fan of hyenas -- they are fascinating. Jane Goodall actually fell into studying chimps rather than choosing them and has gone on record that if she was to choose a species to study she would go for spotted hyenas because they are so unique. The only social predator that is a matriarchal society. The only African animal with the bite power and teeth to crunch up bone, hooves and horns to gain the protein while the other predators leave 40% of the kill behind, and all that can be digested in 24 hours. Excellent hunters with a single individual capable of taking down a bull wildebeest 3 times its weight. Plus, they almost always seem to be going somewhere interesting if they are not there already. Lots to love or at least respect, its too bad they suffer from years of misinformation that has painted them the dirty scavenger (with Disney cementing the hate club) when in fact lions probably raid hyena kills much more than the other way around. Studies show male lions respond to the hyena feeding calls at a rate equal to hyenas themselves.

Beyond that the hyena whooping call with the unnerving laughs mixed in is my absolute favorite sound on safari!

"Beyond that the hyena whooping call with the unnerving laughs mixed in is my absolute favorite sound on safari!"

Bill, I put it on equal footing with the unseen lion at night; the fish eagle; and the go-away bird! Love 'em all D)

John

John: it all comes together to form the most brilliant symphony!

His mamma surely loves him - well, maybe.

He looks like a pretty big guy. Count me amoung the ranks who like hyenas, as I love their cunning survival tactics and the way they interact with each other.

That's not, however, admitting that I think the adults are pretty - just cool looking in an odd and fascinating way. The pups are very cute though.

Here's mine!

http://tinyurl.com/ynsj4u

Hi Africa

I certainly do not think he is ugly - though I would agree with well worn! I have always liked them!

I do not understand hating hyena - they do what they are supposed to do - they have their place just the same as any predator!

Kind regards

Kaye

OK, here's a handsome youngster, patiently waiting for somebody (the Selinda cheetah boys) to bring home some bacon:

http://www.afrigalah.com/sel4img/Hyena805.jpg

This guy did not survive his encounter with Lions. Although I dont think Hyenas are ugly, this one certainly could have used some dental work!
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLan...share&Ux=0
Michael

Nice pics, Michael ..... i suspect the current four boys should/would continue to do this to the hyenas in the neighborhood. A couple years ago, i saw this amazing scene of hyenas feeding on hippo that lost out in a territorial fight of it's own ...... and the whole clan was going at the carcass!

Cyn, does your hyena have a facial injury?

Kaye, I love hyenas more than lions during game drives - I find hyenas more entertaining. I blame "The Lion King" for people's hatred of hyenas.

John, your hyena's too good looking for this thread.

Micheal, what a fantastic shot. I do agree about the dental work.