Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

[AlexE]

Hyena vs pack of boerboels

On the night before our arrival, our host's dogs had killed a large spotted hyena, which hunger attracted too near to the sheepfolds. The corpse of the animal, and of two dogs, who had lost their lives in the combat, were lying together on the field of action. The rest of the dogs had retired in a body to the shady side of the house, where they were licking their wounds. It would be difficult to find more resolute and courageous dogs than the breed which are cherished by the African colonists, and for this peculiar property they are indebted to the dangerous conflicts which they have such frequent occasion to sustain with the hyenas and leopards. At those farms where sheep are bred in any numbers, it is not uncommon to find from ten to fifteen large dogs, which are commonly so fierce, that it is not safe to go very near them, either by day or by night.

One moonlight night I wounded a large male hyena, partially paralysing his hind-quarters, and my pack of dogs at once ran up to and attacked him. Several of these dogs were large, powerful animals, and holding the hyena by the ears, throat, and neck, they certainly prevented him from using his teeth to their discomfort, but they seemed quite unable to pull him to the ground, and when I at last drove them off, I could not see that they had hurt him in any way, so I shot him.

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