LARGE PREDATORS OF BOTSWANA

Spotted hyena
Crocuta crocuta
The spotted hyena is one of Africa's most formidable predators.  They have a poor reputation in mankind's eyes - mostly due to their appearance and odd behavioral traits, but female hyenas are superb parents to their young.  Hyenas also scavenge far less than is thought - in some areas it is actually lions who scavenge more from hyenas, not the reverse.

Spotted hyenas live in groups called "clans" of up to 80 members, but usually far less in Botswana.  The clan is led by a dominant female and, in fact, all females in a clan "outrank" all males - truly a maternal society.  Hyenas can be seen in many areas throughout Botswana including the Okavango, Linyanti and Chobe.  Safari camps with strong populations of hyenas include Mombo Camp, Tubu Tree Camp and DumaTau Camp.

Female hyenas are larger than males and dominate them completely.  In fact, hyena cubs dominate males and immigrant males dominate resident males.  A hyena cub will inherit its mother's rank in the clan, so the alpha female's daughter will typically become the new leader of the clan upon maturity.

Hyenas are also interesting in that females have "false male sex organs" which are commonly mistaken for a penis and scrotum to the casual observer.  It is thought that this is due to exposure to testosterone in the early stages of fetal development, and this may also explain the females' large size.

The term "laughing hyena" IS derived from the "whooping" contact calls and noises made by a hyena when it is excited.  The calls from hyenas are one of the best-known sounds of the African night and are a pleasure to hear as you tuck under the covers!

African wild dog
Lycaon pictus
The African wild dog has a long and sad history of persecution at the hands of mankind in Africa.  Only in the last 20 years had the animal been shown to be anything but the ruthless killer it was once labeled.

Botswana has the largest remaining population of wild dog in the wild.  In Botswana there are an estimated 600 to 1000 dogs remaining, so sightings of these lovely animals are a special treat and one highly sought after by safari enthusiasts.  The best place to see them is in the Linyanti region and in the Okavango, but the dogs have enormous home ranges and may cover a hundred kilometers or more in a day.

Seeing wild dogs on a Botswana safari is far from guaranteed unless you visit during the winter months and the dogs are denning in the area.  During the denning time, the pack will have a much contracted range until the puppies are old enough to travel with the pack.  Camps which have been great for dog sightings of late include Savuti Camp, Kwando Lagoon Camp, and Chitabe Camp.

African wild dogs live in a pack which is led by an alpha male and alpha female.  The alpha pair are generally the only dogs to breed (litter size is typically around 10 puppies) and the rest of the pack look after the young.   Packs generally split when they become too large to feed effectively.  Atypically for most social mammals, males typically remain in their natal packs and female members emigrate to form a new pack.

Contrary to erroneous past beliefs as to their vicious and villainous nature, the essence of the dogs' social and reproductive systems are cooperative hunting and food sharing.  Active submission (rather than aggression) is the key to obtaining food and this is continually reinforced by behavior derived from infantile begging.  Adult members hunt and wolf down food to minimize pilfering of their kills.  Upon returning to the den and young, the adult regurgitate food for the babies with all adults taking a role in this upbringing.

A common sight when viewing dogs is the "greeting ceremony."  This occurs whenever a pack wakes from resting and invariably after a period of separation.  The behavior involves pack members intensely greeting by licking each others faces, rolling in submission and even disgorging food for fellow dogs if they have eaten recently. 

Due to the constant face licking and muzzle rubbing which occurs in the pack, diseases such as rabies and canine distemper are quickly spread throughout a pack.  This has occurred in Kenya's wild dog populations (due to proximity to domesticated dogs) and all but wiped them out.  The number one cause of mortality for dogs in Botswana however is lions.

Brown hyena
Hyaena brunnea
The brown hyena is an elusive animal which is not often seen.  Your best chances of seeing one are in the Makgadikgadi region or in the Central Kalahari.  If you want a chance at seeing a brown hyena, visit Jack's Camp or Deception Valley Lodge.

This hyena usually forages for food alone but they live in small groups of 2-10 animals.  Unlike the spotted hyena, they carry food back to the den for their young and all members of a brown hyena group will perform this duty for all the cubs.

Brown hyenas are also more omnivorous than their cousins, feeding on melons, ostrich eggs and other vegetation, but also with a healthy diet of meat.  They have also adapted to their drier habitat by surviving independent of any drinking water by obtaining necessary moisture from fruits and other food.

If you are lucky enough to see a brown hyena, take a photo quickly as it may be some time before you see your next!