For generations, the global image of hyenas has been shaped by Disney’s The Lion King, which portrayed them as malicious, antisocial and cunning animals. But scientific research has long shown a different picture: spotted hyenas are highly social predators with complex social structures.

A recent study has now found that spotted hyenas use an advanced communication system involving facial expressions and vocalisations during play.

The research was conducted by the Department of Ethology at the University of Pisa, in collaboration with the Ngorongoro Hyena Project of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) and Siyafunda Wildlife & Conservation. The findings were published in March in the journal Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology. p>

Led by Martina Francesconi, Erica Masciarelli, Virginia Schianini, Michael Job, Eve Davidian, Oliver Patrick Höner and Elisabetta Palagi, the research team observed wild spotted hyenas playing and found that their communication methods were comparable in complexity to those of many primate species.

The researchers observed hyenas of all ages engaging in play and wrestling. While younger animals played more frequently than adults, play behaviour was also recorded among older individuals. Adult hyenas showed a particular preference for playing in water.

Communication during play

Play fighting is common among social animals, but it carries risks if signals are misunderstood. For powerful predators such as hyenas, clear communication helps prevent playful encounters from escalating into aggression.

The study focused on the “relaxed open mouth” (ROM) facial expression, a common visual signal among mammals that indicates peaceful intent. Researchers found that hyenas used ROM more often when they were able to maintain direct eye contact with their play partner.

However, when several hyenas played together and eye contact became more difficult, the animals relied more heavily on vocal signals.

The researchers recorded 13 different vocalisations during play, including five that had not previously been documented. They found that vocalisations increased when visual signals were less effective, suggesting that sounds helped compensate for reduced visibility within larger groups.

Dr Oliver Höner, a co-author of the study and researcher at the Leibniz-IZW, said that when several hyenas played together, additional vocal signals helped ensure that all participants understood the animals’ intentions.

The findings suggest that spotted hyenas combine visual and vocal communication depending on the social situation, demonstrating a flexible approach to maintaining cooperation during play.

A widespread African predator

Spotted hyenas are Africa’s most widely distributed large predators. They once occurred across much of Africa and Eurasia but are now found mainly south of the Sahara. Their populations are increasingly concentrated in protected areas.

The Serengeti ecosystem in northern Tanzania and southern Kenya supports one of the largest populations, estimated at between 7,200 and 7,700 animals. Kruger National Park in South Africa is home to another major population, estimated at between 1,300 and 3,900 individuals.

In Namibia, spotted hyenas occur mainly in the north and north-east, including Etosha National Park, the Zambezi region and Khaudum National Park. They are also found in parts of the western Namib Desert.

Although protected areas support natural populations, the species often comes into conflict with farmers in commercial farming areas, where livestock losses have contributed to persecution and local declines.

The global spotted hyena population is estimated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at between 27,000 and 47,000 individuals. In Namibia, estimates range from 5,000 to 8,800 animals.

While the global population is considered to be declining because of habitat loss and persecution, populations in southern Africa, including Namibia, are regarded as relatively stable, particularly within protected areas.

Important role in ecosystems

Despite the common belief that they are mainly scavengers, spotted hyenas are highly effective hunters and kill most of their own prey.

In Namibia, they mainly hunt medium- to large-sized animals such as springbok, gemsbok and zebra. Their powerful jaws allow them to consume almost an entire carcass, including skin and bones.

In desert environments, they also feed on smaller animals, birds and occasionally feral horses.

As apex predators and scavengers, spotted hyenas play an important ecological role. They help regulate herbivore populations, remove carcasses and reduce the spread of disease. Their digestion of bones also contributes nutrients back into the ecosystem.

The IUCN classifies spotted hyenas as a species of least concern globally, but they continue to face local threats. In Namibia, the main challenges include human-wildlife conflict and persecution by farmers concerned about livestock losses.

Conservation efforts increasingly focus on protecting populations in national parks while improving understanding of the species and reducing conflict between humans and wildlife.