Spotted Hyena in the evening light
Spotted Hyena in the evening light
The Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) ranges through wide parts of sub-Saharan Africa and is the largest of all hyena species. The animals live in large groups with up to 80 individuals, but social interactions within the gang can still be rough: females only care for their own cubs, access to food is strongly competetive, and males display no paternal care. Their society is matriarchal with females being larger and dominating males. The Spotted Hyena is Africa’s most common large carnivore with its success mainly due to its opportunistic feeding habits. In general, the animals hunt living prey, but they also scavenge, being able to crack strong bones with their powerful jaws and digesting even thick skins. The species is also called the Laughing Hyena due to its many and variable calls. Their giggles are part of the natural soundtrack of African nights – at least in the wild parts of the continent.
I have photographed these interesting and intimidating animals during a visit to the Etosha National Park in northern Namibia in February 2007. I would love to go back there soon!
Spotted Hyena
Spotted Hyena
Spotted Hyena
taking a mud bath
dinner is ready…
evening light
evening light
break at the waterhole
Matt Travels 
great to see your beautiful photos of hyenas. I was lucky enough to see them in South Luangwa park in Zambia, although they always looked hounded and harassed by tour vehicles.
thanks for your comment! I would love to visit the South Luangwa Park in Zambia some day – unfortunately when I was in Zambia in 2005, those visits to parks where you need to organize a car with driver or a tour were too expensive for me… but i didn’t expect that there are soo many tourists in this rather remote place – compared at least to Etosha and Kruger… at these places the hyenas noticed the tourists, of course, but I don’t think they were very bothered…
Excellent post
thank you – I just love wildlife and photography… that’s all! 🙂
Excellent photographs!!
thanks a lot – since then I changed my camera system, so I’m afraid, I have to go back and take all of those pictures again in better quality! 🙂
Really nice pictures!
thank you! 🙂