Spotted Hyena: The Power of Women

SPOTTED HYENA: The Power of Women

A gregarious Mammal, Spotted Hyena lives a socially complex life. Her Clan is ruled by the fiercest of the Females. Queen Hyena leads her Clan in chasing down prey. Within their Packs, Young Females inherit their Mother’s position. (Clans are broken into Packs ruled by Females.)

The most successful of large Carnivores, Spotted Hyena will gang up on Lions for their Kill. And, She will fiercely defend her Pups from Adult Male Hyenas. As a Mother, She nurses her Young until They are about 18 months old.

Spotted Hyena has a rich repertoire of calls. Whooping, She tells her Clan, “Here I am.” Her giggling and laughing tells Them that She is afraid of something. With loud grunts, Spotted Hyena warns Others. But most importantly She communicates to Her Friends by her rich scent. Her Clan marks their territory with scent, telling Other Hyenas to stay away.

Her Pack hunts different Animals using different methods. For example, to hunt Wildebeests, One Hyena will charge the Herd. The Rest watch for a slow Wildebeest and run after Them.

Spotted Hyena demonstrates the power of women. With great stamina, She brings down Zebra. With her Clan, She can challenge the mighty Lion for his kill or charge a Wildebeest Herd.

Wisdom of Spotted Hyena Includes:
Living a Complex World
Many Methods of Communication
Mothering

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008

From Universal Class, fun self-paced classes taught by me:

Finding Your Animal Teachers

Animals For Everyone: Mammals

Hyenas: More Than You Expect

HYENA FAMILY: Do Not Overgeneralize

Hyenas (Hyaenidae), large doglike Mammals, are related to the Viverridae family of Civets, Genets, and Mongooses. Thought to be scavengers, Hyenas are actually skillful hunters. This small family of Carnivores are remarkable in their ecological and social diversity. Although Hyenas can be defined as Carnivores with jaws that can crush bones and teeth, They cannot be generalized as a group.

For example, Aardwolves of Africa are Hyenas that have specialized in eating Termites. While Aardwolf eats only Termites, Spotted Hyena challenges Lion for her kill. Striped Hyena scavenges but also eats fruit and insects. Meanwhile Brown Hyena scavenges and feeds on melons and ostrich eggs. Because of their eating habits, Hyenas produce the riches milk of carnivores.

Hyenas demonstrates the rich diversity of societies. Brown Hyenas live in a small society where the Natal Mothers will nurse Each Other’s Young. Meanwhile, Aardwolves live in monogamous pairs. While Striped Hyena lives only in a clan of a Female and several Males, Spotted Hyenas live in large female dominated Clans.

But, people only see Hyenas as one thing - vicious laughing scavengers. In Africa, legends of Were-hyenas abound. In Mali, They hunt people, Meanwhile in Ethiopia, people who were hereditary blacksmiths (known as bouda) became Were-hyenas at night to rob graves.

Hyenas teach us an important lesson of overgeneralization. This diverse group has became lumped together and then transformed into terrifying Were-hyenas. People need to look beyond first impressions to find the truth.

Wisdom of the Hyena Family Includes:
Finding the Truth
Embracing Diversity
Finding Your Place

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008

From Universal Class, fun self-paced classes taught by me:

Finding Your Animal Teachers

Animals For Everyone: Mammals