Hyenas

Within minutes of leaving Tree Top our traveling companion, Keith, spotted a group of hyenas. Salim was able to get us within 20 or so feet of them and we saw that they were feasting on what was left of a zebra. Salim explained that hyenas are scavengers – they don’t kill their food; they eat the left-overs from other animals. They eat every part of the carcass, including the bones. They are fast eaters – within minutes of hyenas arriving on the scene there will be no evidence that there was ever an animal there. This doesn’t mean they don’t hunt – they do. And they have a 100% success rate. But when a hyena hunts, it does not kill its prey. It injures it and begins the meal…you get the idea.
Another fun fact about hyenas – they never pass up a meal. If their bellies are full and they come upon more food, they make themselves throw up and go have another meal. Ewww!!!!
The hyenas were joined by a jackal, a small dog-like animal. Jackals are also scavengers who tend to hang around in the background with lions and hyenas. The jackal waits for the others to finish their meal (or at least begin to slow down!), then slides in for a share of his own. The jackal doesn’t contribute anything to the lives or well-being of those he hangs with, but he’s not a bother and doesn’t eat enough to be a threat, so they let him stick around.