Scientists Thought Hyenas Followed Lions for Scraps. They Were Wrong
A study using GPS tracking on lions and hyenas in Namibia and Botswana reveals that hyenas actively avoid lions rather than following them for food scraps. The research highlights a 'hidden choreography' of movement that manages coexistence between the two predators.
Why it matters
This study corrects a long-standing misconception in wildlife biology regarding the behavioral dynamics between two of Africa's most prominent apex predators.
While watching lions and hyenas out in the field, wildlife biologist Nancy Barker noticed that lions were actively tracking the hyenas. When she shared her observations with her colleagues, they insisted she had it backwards; the hyenas were tracking lions for scavenging, not the other way around. Maybe what she saw were chance encounters, others said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in