A LION CHASE BY A CLAN OF HYENAS
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A LION TRAPPED BY A CLAN OF HYENAS
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A LION CARCASS
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Did you know that a Lion can be taken down by a pack of hyenas?. Well! It was a surprise to me at first...
Hyenas and lions are two species whose living-range heavily overlaps. When conflict arise, it's usually in the hyenas favour when the have their clan as backup...with a heart twice as large as a lion, stellar stamina, jaw pressure exceeding 1000psi and a intelligence rivalving primates. Hand Krux in his book "THE SPOTTED HYENAS": 'a study of predation and social behaviour' reveals that 8 spotted hyenas killed a fully grown male lion
Like many other African carnivores, hyenas typically rest during the hottest hours of the day, conducting most of their activity in the hours around dawn and dusk.
The spotted hyena is the largest known member of the hyaenidae and it's further physically distinguished from other species by its vaguely bear-like build, its rounded ears, its prominent mane, its dual purposed dentition, its presence of a pseudo-penis in the female etc.
Spotted hyenas live throughout sub-sahara Africa. These fairly common carnivores have adapted to many different habitats across the continent, including deserts, savannas and forests. Among the most social of carnivores species, hyenas congregate in clans that may have as many as 80members..
SOCIALIZE:
Hyenas have perhaps the most complex social behaviour of any carnivore. Unlike most predator species they live in large female-dominated clans with strict matrilineal hierarchy. Depending on the groups overall size, there may be several hierarchical lines within a single clan. All female clan members including juveniles, are dominant over male clan members. Social politics rule hyena clans , with individual forming alliances with other clan members and coalition between various small groups.
HUNT
They actively hunt more frequently than the scavenge, killing as much as 95% of their food. While they prefer plant-eating mammals such as antelopes, Zebras and warthogs, they aren't picky eaters and consume all sorts of mammals if the opportunity arises. They hunt primarily by detecting prey using their sense of sight as well as hearing and smell.
Although the occasionally ambush prey, their most method of hunting involves intercepting a herd. Hyenas isolate an individual and chase it down often pursuing their target at high speed for long distances.
DEFEND TERRITORY
Hyenas are extremely territorial, and have numerous methods for marking and defending their turf. They use vocalizations both to warn non-resident Interlopers off their territorial clan and to call other clan members to the scene if a stranger refuses to yield. Small groups of clan members form border patrols and walk the boundary day and might.
The bad blood between lions and spotted hyenas runs deep and is one of the most celebrated rivalries in nature. Their gory competition over territory and carcasses has only existed as long as both sees each other around. A paleontologist, "Cajus Diedrich" reveals that "an increasing number of lion remains, including partial skeletons, skulls with parts cracked off, lower jaws which show a consistent pattern of breakage and limb bones that have been nibbled are being recognized from late pleistocene hyena den sites in central Europe" all of which " in his paper" matches up with the specific strategies hyenas use to dismantle bodies
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THE SPOTTED HYENAS