Skunk-Looking Hyena Has Lion Pride Baffled

This lion pride in Botswana just cannot get over the appearance of a brown hyena! They first encounter the strange-looking animal on the road and then insist on following it to a drinking hole. Even though the hyena makes it very clear that it doesn’t want to be followed, the lions persist. In the end, they all end up taking a drink at the same time! Scroll down to see the full extraordinary encounter.

Where Do Brown Hyenas Normally Live?

Brown hyenas are in the same family as spotted hyenas but are a different species. They are a little smaller than their spotted cousins and have completely different coats. Their scientific name is Hyaena brunnea and they are a native species of Africa. Brown hyenas are usually found in southern areas including the Kalahari and Namib deserts. Their preferred habitats are semi-arid grassland and savannas but they are also found in deserts.

In this sort of habitat, water is a premium. If they cannot find fresh water sources, they rely on fruit to keep them hydrated. They can survive in drier conditions than spotted hyenas.

Brown hyenas typically build their dens in sandy areas near large rocks. They use them to shelter from the heat of the sun and to bring up their young.

What Do Brown Hyenas Normally Eat?

When it comes to obtaining food, brown hyenas are superb opportunists. They will happily scavenge carcasses from other predators and that includes lions. These guys have an acute sense of smell so they can locate rotting meat from some distance away. They also have very strong teeth so that they can crush bones typically left behind by lions. This means that their diet consists of zebra, springbok, and other large herbivores. Most of the time they can survive by just scavenging prey. However, they have occasionally been spotted hunting small birds or mammals.

An interesting fact about their diet is that they love to eat melon! You will find them feasting on large quantities of tsama melon, hookeri melon, and gemsbok melon which provides plenty of hydration. This adaption allows them to live in more arid regions than the spotted hyenas who need to drink more water.

Another interesting, but not quite so pleasant fact, is that brown hyenas are coprophagic. They eat feces! This is another adaption that is thought to reduce water loss in arid environments.  

See the Fascinating Clip Below

The photo featured at the top of this post is © EcoPrint/Shutterstock.com