Hyena High Jinks

A new friend for Reis

(Reis) Trot, Trot, Trot, Trot. The Spotted Hyena walks closer to the car. “Emma, take a picture,” I say with excitement. Click. She takes it. I’m relieved. It was dark so she had to take another one, but change her ISO and F Number, whatever that is. The hyena, doesn’t cooperate. Speeding along, it inches further and further away. Thinking quickly, I give a desperate laughing hyena imitation. “OOWEEE,EEEEEE” I call into the night. I repeat , the hyena stops dead in its tracks. As if saying “What did you say?” It listened some more, fascinated by the sound I was making. Straining his ears, hearing. I called again and again. On about the 15th call I decided to experiment. I stopped and, sure enough, it was on its way again. I started once more, he jolted to a stop. “Wow,” I thought, “Never knew I could do that, let alone try.” I then began to play around with the carnivore. During that time Emma and Fausto (our guide) were clicking away. When looking at it more closely, I was beginning to see the elements of the hyena. The powerful jaws to crush bones. The cute muzzle that gave the animal good tinge to its dangerous reputation. As we sat longer, the hyena looked more and more like a domestic dog. But, to give it some privacy for hunting, we had to leave. I ceased howling, and it trotted away. I sure didn’t know I could do that. I guess I have some hyena blood in my body! Who knew. Here’s a quick video of me talking to the hyena: