Keith Raine sent this charming video to Latest Sightings. He filmed it at a hyena den near Satara Camp in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Babysitting duty
According to Keith, he had been waiting near the den when one of the clan’s adults arrived and lay down near the entrance.
When hyenas have an active den site, one or more of the adults will normally act as a babysitter, there to protect the cubs.
As the action begins, we see the babysitter under attack from three boisterous cubs. Note that one cub is significantly larger than the other two.
Less to contend with
A few seconds later, the larger cub and one of its siblings focus their play on one another, giving the babysitter less to contend with.
Got you all to myself
However, that is not to say that it is now at peace. The remaining cub seems to want to prove a point.
Sneakily, the second cub approaches the unwary babysitter from behind…
Bravely, the little one launches its attack, sinking its tiny fangs into the babysitter’s thick fur. Probably more surprised than concerned, the adult raises its head to fend off the unprovoked attack.
I will prevail
However, the cub refuses to be deterred. Determined to assert its dominance, it rears up, landing its paws on the prone adult.
Showing mock aggression, the babysitter again raises its head, showing its fearsome teeth to its attacker. Meanwhile, the other two cubs battle with one another.
Playfighting
As Keith commented in his story, “It was incredible to see how gentle the [babysitter] was when biting and playing with the cubs.” This was true in both of the mock-skirmishes underway.
And he’s right. Were this a serious tussle, the adult could do serious damage with its powerful jaws.
And, while this is mere play, the behaviour does serve an important purpose. In their hierarchical communities, playfighting helps cubs learn about social dynamics and boundaries, all while building their strength.
Who’s next?
While the babysitter is preoccupied, the other cubs seem to tire of their altercation. Still full of energy, they shift their playful assault back to the weary babysitter.
By playing together, they forge and strengthen their bonds, even when the group seems uneven in number.
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You can count on me
When the time comes, they will know that they can count on one another to protect them should real trouble arise.
Still, you can’t help but feel a bit sorry for the harassed adult. Now the focus of all three cubs’ nips and bites, it is unlikely it will get much rest.
For Keith, though, the entertainment was worth hanging around for. We can highly recommend setting aside time to spend at a hyena den when next you’re in Kruger, or any place they are found.
As the video concludes, the four animals were still playing. While the three youngsters continued to harass their babysitter, we can only imagine how much it was looking forward to joining the clan on patrol.
Indeed, even an encounter with lions might be tame by comparison.
