Over the next two hours, we handled and measured more hyena body parts than I care to mention and stuck our hands in its nasty, germ-filled mouth. We even picked ticks off its belly. As we studied this animal, the researchers told us about the life of a hyena. Hyenas stay in their own territory. They organize themselves into clans and defend their turf fiercely against other clans.
Hyenas communicate with each other using calls and body positions.
Using its tail alone, a hyena can tell another hyena that it s relaxed, frightened, or ready to attack. And when hyenas arrive at a tasty meal of half-rotten gazelle, they get really excited and howl in a way that sounds like a demented laugh. Female hyenas are larger than males. They are the dominant animals in their clans. When they are ready to have babies, females attract several males, but mate with only one.