Shebo

This is Shebo from the Falana clan whose name means ‘snare’ in Orominya. Shebo had the misfortune to be caught in a snare, probably set to kill hyenas but possibly set for other pest animals. If I had the means I guess I could sedate her and remove the wire but I just have no way of doing this so she’s stuck with it. The wire is gradually getting tighter and you can see it’s cutting right into the flesh of her neck and must make life pretty uncomfortable and painful, although hyenas supposedly have a high tolerance for pain.
Snares are a problem across Africa, especially in countries where the taking of bush meat is on the increase and hyenas, being quite curious animals, are especially prone to getting caught in snares. For a number of reasons, hyenas aren’t usually eaten in Africa so when one is caught in a snare it is usually left to its own devices rather than killed and eaten as would be other kinds of animals. But even if they can break the snare free from its anchor point, they’ll be stuck with the tightening wire until the injury becomes too severe and they die.

Tukwondilli

This is a (probably) male from the Erer clan called ‘Tukwondilli’ and he’s been acting a little strange of late. For two nights running, at the feeding, he’s been tremendously excitable, actually bursting through the line of tourists, doing a little lap of the shrine, and then coming back through the line of people from behind. And I must say, it’s pretty unnerving having a hyped up hyena push past you from behind like that.
Not entirely certain why he’s been so hyped lately, but it could well be his male urges as last night he was doing his best to mate with Koti, but without success.

And as a post script, I found out last night that 'Tukwondilli' means, 'To touch it is a sin' in Oromia language. This is kind of intriguing and I wonder how he got the name.

Falana Hyenas

And here's a capture from video of some of the Falana clan lying around in the morning sun at Cactus Rocks. This is their denning site and is absolutely perfect, with a view across the valley to the farms, plenty of little caves to sleep in, and only minutes from the slaughteryards. I should sell real estate. No names for these ones as yet so they're quite enigmatic... but cute.