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Summary of Transcript:
The Denver Zoo is doing a virtual safari at 2 pm to show how they care for animals daily. They have raised over $55,000 on Giving Tuesday and hope to reach their matching goal of $68,000. The final virtual safari features hyenas and keepers Kaitlyn, Jordyn, and Molly. There are two clans of spotted hyenas at the zoo and two groups of lions with 11 lions. The exhibit is rotational, allowing the animals to interact with each other and have a choice in their day. Hyenas are not cats or dogs but are closer to felines. They are extremely intelligent and like different behaviors. The hyenas are fed separately to ensure both get their fair share of food.
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Summary of Description:
The article discusses how people’s knowledge of spotted hyenas is limited to what they have seen in popular cultures, like a certain Disney movie. The paper introduces the species by highlighting how much more they are than what people think. Additionally, the report provides a bonus look at an African Wild Dog pack.
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Spotted Hyena: Beyond the Stereotype
The spotted hyena has been at the mercy of negative stereotypes for decades, thanks to its portrayal in popular culture. From Disney movies to folklore, this species has been painted as a vicious scavenger and a cowardly predator. However, keepers at the Indianapolis Zoo are here to teach us that there is so much more to these incredible animals than meets the eye.
Meet the Keepers
Molly, Katelyn, and Jordan are three keepers at the Indianapolis Zoo who have built a strong relationship with the spotted hyenas in their care. They are passionate about educating the public and breaking down the stereotypes surrounding these animals.
Spotted Hyenas: An Incredible Social Structure
Spotted hyenas live in massive groups called clans, consisting of up to 80 individuals. These clans have a strict hierarchy, with the dominant females at the top. Males leave the clan at around two years old, and females stay and continue to rise in rank. In the Indianapolis Zoo, this hierarchy plays out as the hyenas interact with each other during feeding time.
Spotted Hyenas: Efficient Hunters
Despite the common belief that spotted hyenas are mere scavengers, they are incredible hunters in their own right. Their powerful jaws and sharp teeth can take down large prey such as wildebeest and zebras. They also have a remarkable sense of smell, which helps them locate carcasses before other scavengers arrive.
Jordan explains that the hyenas at the Indianapolis Zoo are often given carcasses to eat to keep their hunting skills sharp. This also allows the keepers to hide food throughout the habitat, simulating these animals’ conditions in the wild.
Spotted Hyenas: Unique Physiological Features
Perhaps one of the fascinating things about the spotted hyena is its unique physiology. Females have a pseudo-penis, which is an elongated clitoris. This allows them to assert dominance over males and maintain their high rank within the clan. They also have incredibly strong jaws, capable of crushing bones into tiny fragments, making it easier for them to access the nutritious marrow inside.
African Wild Dogs: A Bonus Peek
As a bonus, the keepers at the Indianapolis Zoo also show viewers their African wild dog pack. Like spotted hyenas, African wild dogs have a strong social structure and effective hunting techniques. However, these animals are unfortunately endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.
The Indianapolis Zoo has been involved in conservation efforts for both species, including breeding and public education programs. By learning more about spotted hyenas and African wild dogs, we can help break down the negative stereotypes and champion these amazing animals.
In conclusion, the spotted hyena is a fascinating and complex species that deserves more recognition and understanding than it has received in popular culture. Keepers like Molly, Katelyn, and Jordan are working to change that by educating the public and highlighting these animals’ incredible skills and features. We can learn the importance of conservation and protecting our planet’s wildlife by paying attention to animals like a spotted hyenas.
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Source Description
How much do you know about the spotted hyena? Just what you’ve seen in a certain Disney movie? Bonus peek at our African Wild Dog pack! Keepers Molly, Katelyn, and Jordan will show you why this species is so much more than what you’ve seen in popular culture.
