We enjoy seeing animals drinking, especially the predators, but have you ever seen a predator in water? There are only a few who like to spend time immersed; the large cats are not generally a part of this group. Lion, leopard and cheetah will avoid water where they can but will swim when they need to.
Hyenas and African wild dogs are a different story; they will readily enter shallow pools of water to cool down.
Hyenas choose pools of water in which they’re sure there are no crocodiles!
When we saw the hyena above lying in a pool of water a few days ago I just thought to myself how this must be a shock for some people to see. We see rhinos, buffalo and elephant in and around water so often, but few first time visitors to Africa expect to see predators bathing.
I remember watching this particular hyena for about 30 minutes; everybody on the vehicle was in a discussion about how hyenas have a bad reputation but are actually wonderfully entertaining creatures, an image change significantly aided by the wallowing individual.
If a lion were to drink, he/she would most likely not enter the water up to its ankles like this hyena!
A swish of the tail as this hyena leaves the water after cooling down.
I wonder what the two of them were thinking here as they watched the stork.
Water is key to spotted hyenas surviving in an area. They prefer to drink every day although they can survive for a week without drinking given that they are extracting enough moisture from their prey.
Cooling by water immersion means energy is conserved, which can then be exerted in play.
Hyenas will not hesitate to pursue prey into water. They will also not hesitate to wade into water to retrieve carcasses. I have seen hyenas dragging a zebra carcass into water and feeding in the water. Maybe this preserves the carcass for longer and also hides the large carcass that they cannot finish in one bout of feeding.
This hyena planted its rump in a shallow pool to cool down.
So relaxed is this hyena that its eyelids started to droop.
After feeding a hyena’s body temperature will rise and a full, engorged stomach will put pressure on its diaphragm. He/she will pant heavily and have difficulty breathing comfortably. In order to cool down it will often lie in a pool of water, this also probably facilitates easier breathing.
I took this photograph in 2017 and it still makes me chuckle when I look at it. One of the most relaxed hyenas I’ve ever seen.
It is really fun to see hyenas and wild dogs, or any predator, in and around water. You will probably see more of this behaviour in the summer months though, when temperatures are high and the waterbodies are full and warm.
Two days ago it was a classically hot summer’s day in the bush and in three instances on one drive we saw hyenas lying in waterholes.
Bruce I was fascinated with the Hyena and the wild dogs. Great photos and I learned something I did not know.
Thank you Andrew!
Watching wild dogs and hyenas in water reminds me of labs…. they love cavorting/playing in any body of water. Just goes to show that some traits in domesticated animals are true for their wild counterparts.
Bruce, what a wonderful blog – i have never seen a hyena in the water!
Yes, I’ve frequently seen hyenas sitting in waterholes. I’ve always wondered, in the man-made waterholes, how this leaves the water tasting after the hyena departs! In the mornings, they often seem to get frisky around water and play and splash in it. Definitely an endearing animal to watch, full of character.
I really reappraised my views on hyenas after visiting Londolozi and seeing the hyena den . So cute , having said that I have also heard hyena clans fighting.
Hi Ian, great, I’m glad to hear that your opinion changed!
Yes I have in the Mara it’s very interesting behavior. Great blog thanks for sharing
Thank you Brian!
Together with the Wild Dogs the smartest predators.
The photos were wonderful thanks you.
can’t wait until our safari!
I have to admit that I actually loved the photos of hyenas playing and cooling off. They do not make me like them a lot, but they had a certain goofy charm. Victoria
I have seen hyena just lying in the water. Your post explains why! Thanks for sharing,
Bruce! Nice photos!
Hi Darlene, I’m glad the blog gave you some insight!
Love this article! My favorite animal in the bush!
An interesting blog Bruce. Have a healthy respect for hyenas and wild dogs. I have seen their water behaviour on some of the live wildlife cams. Your pics were excellent. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you for highlighting one of my personal favorites!
I have seen several hyenas lying around a pan in Moremi before.