Hi there! I’m Kate from MinuteEarth, and today I want to talk about one of my favorite animals: the spotted hyena. Now, I know hyenas might not be everyone’s favorite animal. In fact, people often like them as much as they like snakes, tarantulas, skunks, and hornets. But why is that? Let’s dive into the reasons why hyenas have such a bad reputation.
Hyenas have been misunderstood for a long time, even before Disney movies portrayed them negatively. Ancient thinkers like Aristotle spoke poorly of them, medieval scholars criticized them in books and drawings, and famous writers like Hemingway didn’t have nice things to say about them either.
It’s not just a Western thing, though. In Tanzania, some people believe that witches ride on hyenas and control them. In the Ivory Coast, there’s a story about how a hyena’s droppings scared an entire village because they thought it was a sign of death.
So, why do hyenas get such a bad rap? Part of it is a cycle of negative stories that build on each other. But there must be more to it. Sure, hyenas can be dangerous, but so can tigers and elephants, and we still love those animals. Maybe it’s their looks. Some people find hyenas’ scraggly mane and awkward proportions a bit strange.
Researchers say that we often dislike animals that have traits we would find unattractive or unhealthy in humans. While hyenas might not win beauty contests, that doesn’t mean they’re villains. We also tend to judge animals based on human standards. When animals like hyenas eat rotten meat or have unique ways of giving birth, it might seem weird to us, making us instinctively dislike them.
Think about how we view snakes, bats, and rats. We often see them as villains because of their unusual behaviors. But these behaviors are just different survival strategies. Hyenas, like these other animals, have evolved to thrive in their own unique ways. Their uniqueness makes them fascinating and interesting!
I’m not saying you have to love hyenas, but maybe we should rethink our biases and give them a chance. Our tendency to dismiss entire species based on our limited perspective might say more about us than about them.
I’m clearly not shy about my love for hyenas or for MinuteEarth! And it seems like you all love MinuteEarth too, since you’ve been asking for more merchandise. We’ve finally made it happen with awesome sticker packs featuring some of our favorite characters, including a cute hyena. You can pre-order them now at DFTBA.com/MinuteEarth.
We’ve also designed two great new T-shirts with the help of our patrons. Plus, you can add some classic merchandise to your order. Check it all out at DFTBA.com/MinuteEarth, and don’t forget to tweet us or tag us on Instagram to show off your new items! Congratulations to our latest caption contest winner, and get ready for the next image to caption at Patreon.com/MinuteEarth.
Research some common myths about hyenas and find out the truth behind them. Create a presentation to share with the class, highlighting how these myths have contributed to their negative reputation. Use reliable sources and include interesting facts that challenge these misconceptions.
Participate in a class debate on whether hyenas deserve their bad reputation. Split into two groups: one defending hyenas and the other supporting the negative views. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments. This will help you understand different perspectives and the importance of evidence-based opinions.
Create a piece of art that portrays hyenas in a positive light. This could be a drawing, painting, or digital artwork. Focus on their unique features and behaviors that make them fascinating. Display your artwork in the classroom to help change perceptions about hyenas.
Choose another animal that is often misunderstood, like snakes or bats, and compare it to hyenas. Write a short essay discussing the similarities and differences in how these animals are perceived and the reasons behind these perceptions. Share your findings with the class to broaden everyone’s understanding of animal reputations.
Watch a documentary or video about hyenas in their natural habitat. Take notes on their behaviors, social structures, and survival strategies. Write a reflection on how these observations differ from the negative stereotypes discussed in the article. This will help you appreciate the complexity of hyenas and their role in the ecosystem.
Hi, this is Kate from MinuteEarth, and this is a spotted hyena – my favorite animal. But hyenas are probably not your favorite animal; even though we humans generally feel pretty warm and fuzzy toward warm and fuzzy animals, we like hyenas just about as much as we do snakes, tarantulas, skunks, and hornets. Like snakes and spiders, hyenas have long been misunderstood, and we’re talking way before Disney. Aristotle spoke negatively about hyenas thousands of years ago, medieval scholars criticized them in written and illustrated form, and Hemingway expressed disdain for them in lengthy passages.
And it’s not just the Western world; people who actually live among hyenas don’t like them any better. In Tanzania, it’s believed that witches ride on and control hyenas. And the Beng people of the Ivory Coast tell a story of how, after a hyena left droppings in a local village, everyone fled – its stark-white droppings were seen as an omen of death.
So, why can’t hyenas even leave droppings without getting a bad reputation? It’s partly a vicious cycle, since one negative depiction leads to another, but all this dislike has to be based on something. Sure, hyenas can be dangerous, but so can tigers, elephants, and lots of other creatures we adore, so that alone doesn’t explain it. Maybe it’s their appearance; I think hyenas are quite cute, but I know some people find them a bit “off”… their scraggly mane, awkward proportions, and occasionally sparse fur on their faces.
Researchers have found that one thing that turns us off from animals is traits that, on a human, would look unhealthy or unattractive. While these animals won’t win any beauty contests, we don’t go so far as to label them as villains, either. Hyenas’ public relations problem might also stem from the fact that we view animals’ behavior through a human lens. When a species, for example, eats rotten meat or gives birth in a unique way, it might violate our standards for what’s acceptable, instinctively triggering a dislike in us.
Just look at how we view the unusual behaviors of snakes, bats, and rats, animals that we often typecast as villains. Of course, the unconventional survival strategies of hyenas – and rats and bats and snakes – don’t actually make them evil; they’ve just evolved different ways of thriving in the world. In fact, I’d argue that their uniqueness makes them especially fascinating and interesting – but I’m not necessarily trying to get you to love hyenas.
I just think that our tendency to dismiss entire species based on our own limited perspective might say more about us than it does about them… maybe we should reconsider our biases and give them a chance.
OK, so clearly I’m not shy about displaying my love for hyenas… OR for MinuteEarth! And neither are you all, since you’ve been asking for more MinuteEarth merchandise. We’ve finally made it happen – check out these awesome sticker packs featuring some of our favorite MinuteEarth characters, including a very cute hyena. You can pre-order them right now at DFTBA.com/MinuteEarth.
With the help of our patrons, we’ve also designed two great new T-shirts. Plus, you can always add some of our classic merchandise to your order as well. Check it all out at DFTBA.com/MinuteEarth, and be sure to tweet us or tag us on Instagram to show off your new items! Also, congratulations to our latest caption contest winner. The next image is ready for awesome caption suggestions from all levels of Patrons at Patreon.com/MinuteEarth.
Hyenas – Medium-sized mammals known for their distinctive calls and scavenging habits, often found in Africa. – Hyenas play an important role in the ecosystem by cleaning up carcasses left by other predators.
Animals – Living organisms that feed on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous systems. – In biology class, we learned how animals adapt to their environments to survive.
Reputation – The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something, often based on past actions or behaviors. – Hyenas have a reputation for being fierce scavengers, but they are also skilled hunters.
Behaviors – The actions or reactions of an organism, often in response to its environment. – Studying animal behaviors helps scientists understand how different species interact with each other.
Traits – Characteristics or features that can be inherited or acquired, often used to describe physical or behavioral attributes. – The bright colors of a peacock’s feathers are traits that help attract mates.
Survival – The ability to continue living or existing, often despite challenging conditions. – In the wild, animals must constantly adapt to ensure their survival against predators and changing climates.
Unique – Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else, often referring to distinct characteristics or features. – Each species has unique adaptations that help it thrive in its specific habitat.
Misconceptions – Incorrect or mistaken views or ideas, often based on misunderstandings or lack of information. – There are many misconceptions about bats, such as the idea that they are blind, when in fact they have good eyesight.
Psychology – The scientific study of the mind and behavior, exploring how individuals think, feel, and act. – In psychology, we learn about how different experiences can shape a person’s behavior and personality.
Evolution – The process by which different kinds of living organisms develop and diversify from earlier forms over generations. – The theory of evolution explains how species change over time through natural selection.
