Hyenas are complex and highly adaptive carnivores. Their behaviors, particularly aggression, are often misunderstood and a subject of frequent public curiosity. Hyenas exhibit a range of aggressive displays, each serving a specific purpose within their ecological and social lives, influencing interactions with both humans and other animals.
Understanding Hyena Aggression
Hyena aggression is a multifaceted behavior, not a constant state, and is typically purposeful and contextual rather than indiscriminate. Predatory aggression, for instance, is seen during hunting, where hyenas actively pursue and subdue prey. Defensive aggression is employed for self-preservation or to protect young, as hyenas will create a defensive wall to prevent intruders from reaching their cubs. Social aggression is used within their complex clan hierarchies to establish and maintain dominance, with females often displaying higher rates and intensities of aggression, especially in food-related contexts.
Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are known for their formidable predatory capabilities. Unlike brown and striped hyenas, which are primarily scavengers, spotted hyenas are efficient hunters, with over 90% of their diet coming from their own kills. Striped hyenas, though also capable of hunting, tend to be more solitary and less aggressive, often preferring insects, small mammals, or opportunistic scavenging. Females in both spotted and striped hyena species are typically larger, heavier, and more dominant than males.
Aggression Towards Humans and Other Animals
Hyenas exhibit aggressive behaviors towards both humans and other animals, driven by their roles as predators and scavengers. Attacks on humans are relatively rare and usually occur under specific circumstances. Hyenas may become aggressive if threatened, if humans encroach on their territory, or if natural prey is scarce, leading them to scavenge near human settlements. They might target individuals perceived as less threatening, such as children, women, or frail men.
In their interactions with other animals, hyenas display both predatory and competitive aggression. Spotted hyenas are skilled hunters, utilizing coordinated pack strategies to take down prey much larger than themselves, including zebras and wildebeests. Their hunting techniques involve stalking, ambushing, and persistent chasing, often exhausting their prey. When hunting, a group of spotted hyenas can overpower prey weighing over 500 pounds, and a clan of about 20 can take down a 1,000-pound buffalo.
Hyenas also engage in significant competition with other carnivores, particularly lions, over food and territory. While a common misconception is that hyenas primarily scavenge from lion kills, lions steal more kills from hyenas. The rivalry between lions and hyenas is long-standing, influencing their hunting behaviors and territorial boundaries. Hyenas will mob lions, engaging in coordinated attacks to drive them away from carcasses. They also compete with wild dogs, especially during dry seasons when prey is scarce.
Factors Influencing Hyena Behavior
Several factors influence hyena aggression. Hunger drives hyenas, as opportunistic feeders, to take advantage of weakened or vulnerable prey. Competition for resources, such as food and water, escalates aggression, particularly when these resources are scarce. This is evident in clashes between hyena clans and other predators like lions over fresh kills.
Territorial defense is another factor. Hyenas, particularly spotted hyenas, are highly territorial, marking boundaries with scent and vocalizations. Females are often more active in defending territory, and clan members mob intruders or rival clans to protect hunting grounds and dens. Protecting cubs also elicits defensive aggression, with adult females and males forming a protective wall around their young.
Social dynamics within the clan, including establishing dominance hierarchies, also shape aggression. Female spotted hyenas, the dominant sex, use aggression to assert their rank, which is linked to reproductive success. Environmental conditions, such as resource availability and competing predators, influence the frequency and intensity of hyena aggression. For example, male lions can increase interaction probability, influencing hyena mobbing behavior.