Spotted hyena hunting in South Africa

Spotted Hyena are sometimes called “Laughing Hyena” from the crazy eerie sounds they make when excited. They conjure up many stories of African witchcraft and shall forever remain a mysterious beast of the night. Hyena are both scavengers and also one of the most accomplished hunters, especially when operating as a clan. Spotted Hyena are found in the Northern extremities of the country extending from the semi-arid regions of the Northern Cape, North West to the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal provinces with their numbers increasing from west to east across the country. They are mostly hunted in the Lowveld regions of the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. Spotted Hyena for the most part are hunted at night over bait. Being predominantly nocturnal animals, they may be encountered during the day at dawn or dusk and when there is a possibility of a free meal. They will drive most big predators off a kill, except fully mature adult Lions. Although Spotted Hyena numbers are declining, this species is classified of least concern by the IUCN. A Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) permit must be pre-arranged prior to hunting.