SIFAKA BLOG

During the second day of our Etosha National Park visit, I told my friends that I really wanted to see a hyena. I had never seen one before, and I think they are a very beautiful and very misunderstood African predator. The chances that we would see a hyena were very small, especially because hyenas are nocturnal, meaning they are awake at night and sleep during the day. But when we drove up to a waterhole that morning, there were two spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) enjoying the cool morning air! One of the hyenas was even taking a bath in the waterhole!

One of the hyenas walked off into the bush, but the other hyena seemed to be having a very nice time in the water. We were able to watch the hyena for a pretty long while before it got up out of the water and went to join its friend.

Hyenas may have a bad reputation, but they play a very important role in the African savannah ecosystem. Hyenas are known to both hunt and scavenge for their food. To be a scavenger means that they will eat something that has already died. It may sound rather gross to you and me, but it is a good way for hyenas to get a meal and help clean up the savannah. In this way, hyenas are kind of like garbage disposals!