Wildlife: Mammals -
Hyaena 2/3
Amphibians |
Birds |
Mammals |
Reptiles
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Wildlife
Crocuta Crocuta, Spotted Hyaena, Gevlekte Hiëna, Hyäne.
 Life
history
Gestation takes 90 days. Up to 2 youngsters will be born in a litter at any time
of the year. When twins are born they are usually of opposite sexes. Sometimes
two males are born together but this is very rare. Cubs are born with well
developed teeth and with their eyes open. When there are two cubs who are both
female they will fight savagely. It often happens that one sister will kill the
other. Weaning begins at 9 months. Adults will not bring a lot of food to the
den. Males are full grown at 30 months while females are full grown 6 months
later.
Behaviour
The hyaena will travel up to 70 kilometres at night to hunt.
Often it is seen during the day resting in holes left behind by
aardvarks. They are highly social, living in clans whose size is
related to the food supply that is present. Usually in the
Kruger National Park they live in groups of 10 up to 30
individuals. There are clear hierarchies within the packs. In
the Kruger National Park packs will defend their territory. They
hunt in packs at speeds up to 60 kilometres an hour over
distances up to 3 kilometres. Wildebeest are usually hunted by
groups of three individuals. They also perform carrion duties
from distances as far as 10 kilometres away when they hear other
predators performing their hunting. They are also the animals
that you can hear when staying in restcamps in the Kruger
National Park, since they tend to patrol along the fences at
night.
Field Signs
White when they are fresh, and brown when they are a bit older,
scent marks can be distinguished as smears. Middens containing
large numbers white faeces that look like lumpy cilinders.
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