Q&A

Are the hyena men real?

Are the hyena men real?

The men are from the rural farmlands of northern Nigeria, where they catch the hyena pups, baboons and snakes in the wild. In one documentary, the camera crew follows them into a cave to steal hyena pups from a den. They then train them and take them to the city to perform in their street circus.

What is a hyena man?

Yusuf shows no signs of fear, his face an expressionless mask, as Africa’s second-largest predator bites just inches from his nose. Among the locals of Harar, Yusuf is known simply as the “hyena man”– a title he inherited from his father, Yusuf Saleh who began feeding hyenas in the 1960s to protect his livestock.

Are hyenas Nigerian?

These include lions, leopards, mongooses, hyenas, side-striped jackals, African elephants, African buffaloes, African manatees, rhinoceroses, antelopes, waterbuck, giraffes, warthogs, red river hogs, hippopotamuses, pangolins, aardvarks, western tree hyraxes, bushbabies, monkeys, baboons, western gorillas, chimpanzees.

Do people keep hyenas as pets in Africa?

Yes! Hyenas can be tamed, and they can be a good pet for humans if they have been tamed! Striped hyenas are easily trained, and they much faster to be tamed when young. They were used by Ancient Egyptians in the past and they were tamed for use in hunting.

Do hyenas laugh?

But are hyenas really laughing? Spotted hyenas produce multiple different vocalizations, each of which means something distinct for the listener. The “laughter” vocalization for which they are known is a high-pitched series of short gigglelike sounds. A hyena may also produce a laughterlike sound when it is frustrated.

Has anyone ever tamed a hyena?

The striped hyena is easily tamed and can be fully trained, particularly when young. Although the Ancient Egyptians did not consider striped hyenas sacred, they supposedly tamed them for use in hunting.

Does Nigeria have tigers?

Are There Tigers in Nigeria? No, there are no tigers in Nigeria.

Where are the hyena men in Africa from?

There are two different groups of Hyena men in Africa. There are the Hyena men of Nigeria, the men that Pieter Hugo photographed, and there is a Hyena man who lives in Ethiopia. The men in Nigeria are traveling performers who have caught and tamed hyenas, baboons, and pythons. They travel around Nigeria performing tricks with their animals.

Who are the hyena handlers in Northern Nigeria?

In the northern part of Nigeria roam Gadawan Kura’ (which loosely translates as “hyena handlers”), “a group of itinerant minstrels, performers who use wild animals like hyena, python & baboons to entertain crowds and sell traditional medicines,” popularly called “Hyena men” .

Are there any hyenas or baboons in Nigeria?

The Hyena men of Nigeria work with three hyenas, four baboons, and two rock pythons. These men have used these animals to create a very successful business model. It is a family business, for only members of the family are taught how to trap and care for the hyenas and the other animals.

Who is the hyena photographer in South Africa?

Pieter Hugo is one of South Africa’s most recognizable photographers most notably known today for his Hyena and Other Men series.