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Yesterday the movie "Hyena Queen" was broadcasted on the Dutch National Geographic Channel.

Quote: "Acclaimed wildlife filmmaker, Kim Wolhuter, spent months on the Mala Mala game reserve in South Africa, winning the trust of a hyena clan and gaining an in-depth understanding of their behaviour."

A nice movie although unfortunately some parts were presented in the "MTV way", jumping from image to image. Wolhuter was walking with the hyena's while they were hunting, sitting on the ground next to a kill and filming the clan while they were feeding, petting one the young hyena's (named .... Scratchy) at the den while Mom was there and even lying on his back between the clan. Although I am not so sure he is giving the right message here, it was amazing to see.

Some hyena pics from our recent trip. The female looks a little "beaten up".



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The Hyeana queen...

Yes saw it... awesome doc.

P.S. Here is a photo I took when we were in Satara in 2003. Hope you enjoy it!


(Originally posted by kenwardc, Thu Jun 30, 2005)

H11.

Either after a good meal or pregnant?


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What are the male and female terms for hyena's??

I think we should then set this right by giving them names..maybe she-males for the females(since they have mock male-genitals)

Female Spotted Hyena are GENERALLY much larger than the male in a sample of adult Hyena. Looking at the photo briefly I would say the big fat one in front is female and the smaller one is either a sub adult or adult male

We always seem to find them in the road early in the morning. We were watching these guys on the H1-7 from Shingwedzi to Punda Maria. This little one came right to my window.


One of them made a strange sound and then 2 females went to lay down so that the little ones can drink.

The alpha female (I suppose) started moving around as if she was in a hurry and the little ones went into the bushes next to the road. I then saw a blue wildebeest sticking his head through the bushes further up the road. He looked left then right and saw the hyenas. As he saw them he turned around and I only saw his bud disappear very, very fast. 2 Hyenas then started running his way and also disappeared in the bushes.

I had a lekker laugh at that wildebeest, it was so funny, looking left then right and gone.

[quote="wildheart"]We always seem to find them in the road early in the morning. We were watching these guys on the H1-7 from Shingwedzi to Punda Maria. This little one came right to my window.


We also always seem to find them at the first main road intersection from paul kruger gate can anyone tell me if they are still there.

I think they move around allot. We have travelled on the H-3 many times and didnt see anything and then on one day in Sept we saw hyena 3 times on the H-3. The first one was laying to far away from the road to take a picture. About a km on we found this mom,

and not even a km on this 'well fed', or maybe a mommy to be.

Stayed in one of the tents in Skukuza in January, right next to the fence - H15 I think it was. Spotted a hyaena whilst laying in bed! The slightest movement chased it away and then I fell asleep.

This must probably be the biggest "teaze" animal for my and Hyaena

We only seem to see them on a nightdrive or as we have to in at the gates .. There is no time to stay with them ...

On our last trip on the H6 .. we stopped to view young giraffe and lo and behold right next to the road in a ditch a little head pops up.

A young one curious about the "Hyaena" sitting in the car .. my SO almost freaked when she saw it (she kinda likes them ... so do I .. They have the cutest faces and expressions when they are young)

But yet again .. a minute or two and back into it's den .. Waited for another 5 or so minutes but he clearly was not interested in further communications with us.

However .. I have seen them quite nicely .. On the Duke mission we came upon a few of them incl. young pups and they were very curious about the vehicle.

One forgot to go with the pack when they started to leave and almost had a fit when he noticed he was alone. Fortunately either the mom or one of his aunts came to fetch him/her (you can never really tell hey )

I saw a program about them just the other night. The pack was also leaving and one got lost, with a lion on its track.

He then put his head right down to the ground and made very funny noises so that the others could find him. Luckily one did come back for him. The way animals communicate really amazes me.

the definition of tough!!

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