VolvoS60:


^^^
I do sir. Perhaps not as much as you but I do know a little. Note that I enclosed the word 'cowardly' in parentheses.

Hyenas (when in packs) compete directly with lions for prey, sometimes seizing their kills and running them out of an area. That definitely requires stoutness of heart. (And large numbers also help too.)

But hyenas (when alone or in pairs) have also been observed to be unusually reluctant to attack potential prey when such prey display the slightest signs of aggression - perhaps because the 'prey' were dangerous predators too. There's a widely circulated video of an injured African wild dog taking on a lone hyena - with the hyena inexplicably backing down, despite the dog's severe leg injuries.

Solitary cheetahs and Leopards (despite being at a great size disadvantage compared to hyenas) have also been known to run hyenas out of town (in a one on one situation). Again the crucial factor is the number of hyenas - you can imagine the story would be very different if the entire hyena pack was in the mix.

A single hyena retreating when the face a much bigger and stronger predator isn't cowardice but bravery and wisdom..


Even lions retreat when they face a big prey....
A single lion cannot face n elephant... It doesn't mean the lion is lazy... It means they know when to retreat...
On that note, a single hyena can claim a prey from a single cheetah.....

VolvoS60:

Surprising that it wasn't muzzled.

Hyenas may have a reputation for being 'cowardly' but they have the strongest jaws among mammals - a bite force strong enough to make short work of elephant bones.

Those people would do well to steer clear or things could take a very different turn from what they planned. Keeping a wild hyena on a leash with its jaws free - and having humans standing just yards away isn't a good idea.

Surprised at the docility of the hyena.

With the bite force its jaws possess it is equally surprising that it has not made a dash to escape the crowd. This one is probably young and tired from the struggle it must have taken to put old pieces of clothing around its neck.

Perhaps their ignorance and crowding is protecting them, making the animal exhibit its notorious cowardice seeing as it is outnumbered. Maybe their talking is new territory and it would rather not explore.

I feel sorry for it. It looks like a dog in chains.

the level of ignorance on this topic is so sickening. some people are even proud of being ignorant. pathetic.