Luke Massey / Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) in urban setting at night, Harar, Ethiopia

Neil Aldridge / Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) reassuring her tiny pup at the entrance to their den, Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana.

Neil Aldridge / Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) exploring the skeleton of an elephant, Selinda Spillway, northern Botswana.

Will Burrard-Lucas / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) at night, taken with remote camera. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia. December

Will Burrard-Lucas / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) low angle shot of group taken with remote camera. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia. May

Anup Shah / Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) group, Masai Mara, Kenya

Enrique Lopez-Tapia / Man feeding Hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) at night in Harar City, this has been a tradition for several centuries, and has now become a show for tourists. Ethiopia, November 2014

Enrique Lopez-Tapia / Man feeding Hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) at night in Harar City, this has been a tradition for several centuries, and has now become a show for tourists. Ethiopia, November 2014

Solvin Zankl / Brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea) stalking fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus) pup, Sperrgebiet National Park, Namibia, December. Sequence 1/8

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) walking and smelling the ground. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

Anup Shah / White-backed vultures (Gyps africanus) waiting for Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) to finish feeding on a kill. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

Anup Shah / Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) group feeding on kill, Masai Mara, Kenya

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) pup approaching with curiosity. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Taken with remote wide angle camera.

Anup Shah / Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) approaching with curiosity. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Taken with remote wide angle camera.

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) approaching with curiosity. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Taken with remote wide angle camera.

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) approaching with curiosity. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Taken with remote wide angle camera.

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) aged about 2 years watching with curiosity with the rest of the clan in the background. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Taken with remote wide angle camera.

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) preparing to carry a pup aged 2-3 months. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, July

Denis-Huot,Denis-Huot / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) with Lesser flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor) it has just caught, Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Denis-Huot / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) hunting Lesser flamingoes (Phoenicopterus minor) Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Denis-Huot / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) baby at den, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

Denis-Huot / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) killing a newborn Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti) Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya

Anup Shah / African Lion (Panthera leo) male approaching Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. March

Christophe Courteau / Spotted Hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) at night, South Africa

Paul D Stewart / Lithograph with contemporary colouring, continental version of the last wallchart produced by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins for the Department of Science and Art 1862. It is entitled 'Pachydermata and C...

Paul D Stewart / A rare British broadsheet illustration with contemporary hand colouring, drawn and engraved by John Emslie and published by James Reynolds in 1849. It shows reconstructions of extinct creatures in the...

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) pup aged 6-9 months portrait, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, August

Ole Jorgen Liodden / Three Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) cubs. Masai Mara, Kenya, December.

Martin Dohrn / Three hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) approaching a resting lion (Panthera leo) at night. Topi Plain, Masai Mara, Kenya. Image taken using an infared camera with no artificial visible light, on location for...

Martin Dohrn / Group of hyena (Crocuta crocuta) playing in deep rain puddle at night. Topi Plain, Masai Mara, Kenya. Image taken using "starlight camera" with no artificial light, on location for National Geographi...

Tony Heald / Spotted Hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) rolling in Devil's Thorn flowers (Tribulus terrestris). Etosha National Park, Namibia, January.

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) portrait standing, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. December

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) pups approaching with curiosity, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. December

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) approaching with suspicion, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. December

Laurent Geslin / Brown Hyaena (Hyaena brunna) running. Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Anup Shah / Female Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) walking through savanna, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. March

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena pups greeting an adult (Crocuta crocuta). Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. December

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) approaching, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, December

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) adolescent approaching with curiosity, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, December

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) with pups, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, December

Anup Shah / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) adolescent with two pups looking with curiosity, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, December

Anup Shah / Young Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) approaching with curiosity, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, September

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} chasing Lesser flamingo {Phoeniconaias minor} Lake Nakuru NP, Kenya

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} amongst flock of Lesser flamingo {Phoeniconaias minor} Lake Nakuru NP, Kenya

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} predating Lesser flamingo {Phoeniconaias minor} Lake Nakuru NP, Kenya

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} amongst flock of Lesser flamingo {Phoeniconaias minor} Lake Nakuru NP, Kenya

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} running with prey of Thomson's gazelle fawn, Serengeti NP, Tanzania

Suzi Eszterhas / Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) adult female yawning at den, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta}carrying carcass in mouth followed by three Black backed jackals {Canis mesomelas} Masai Mara reserve, Kenya

Constantinos Petrinos / Spotted hyena cubs {Crocuta crocuta} Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa

Peter Blackwell / Spotted hyaena with prey {Crocuta crocuta} Masai Mara NR Kenya

Terry Andrewartha / Spotted hyaenas {Crocuta crocuta} taunting lion Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya, East Africa

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} at dusk walking to Acacia tree. Maasai Mara, Kenya.

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} chasing vulture from carcass. Maasai Mara, Kenya.

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena chases another with gazelle prey, Serengeti NP, Tanzania {Crocuta crocuta}

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena predating newborn Thomson's gazelle, Serengeti NP, Tanzania {Crocuta crocuta}

Mitsuaki Iwago / African Lion (Panthera leo) group surrounding wounded Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Mitsuaki Iwago / African Lion (Panthera leo) female attacking wounded Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Mitsuaki Iwago / African Lion (Panthera leo) females attacking Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Mitsuaki Iwago / African Lion (Panthera leo) females and young males attacking and eventually killing a Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Mitsuaki Iwago / Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) sleeping on back, Serengeti

Mitsuaki Iwago / Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) laughing, Serengeti

Richard Du Toit / Spotted hyaenas greeting at dusk {Crocuta crocuta} Okavango delta, Botswana

Richard Du Toit / Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} with Buffalo bone. Moremi WR Botswana

Karl Ammann / Male Lion killing Hyaena, Masai Mara, Kenya

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena and White backed vulture dispute at carcass, Masai Mara, Kenya

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena greeting ritual {Crocuta crocuta} Masai Mara, Kenya East-Africa

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} greeting ritual, Masai Mara, Kenya East-Africa

Tony Heald / Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} mother with cub climbing over it, Kruger NP, South Africa.

Martin Dohrn / Spotted hyaenas at night, Masai Mara, Kenya. Starlight image intensifier camera image taken with no artificial light, composite

Martin Dohrn / Spotted hyaenas {Crocuta crocuta} on the prowl. Serengeti NP, Tanzania, East Africa. Image taken using 'Starlight Camera' technology without artificial lighting. Ngorongoro Conservation Area,

Martin Dohrn / Spotted hyaenas harrass lioness. Serengeti NP, Tanzania, East Africa. Infra-red image taken at night using 'Starlight Camera' technology without artificial lighting. Ngorongoro Conservation Area,

Martin Dohrn / Spotted hyaena portrait in moonlight {Crocuta crocuta} Serengeti NP Tanzania, East Africa. Image taken using 'Starlight Camera' technology without artificial lighting. Ngorongoro Conservation Area,

Martin Dohrn / Spotted hyaenas {Crocuta crocuta} feeding on kill, Serengeti NP, Tanzania, East Africa. Image taken at night using 'Starlight Camera' technology without artificial lighting. Ngorongoro Conservation Ar...

Anup Shah / Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} carries Wildebeest head Masai Mara GR, Kenya

Eric Baccega / Aerial view of a male Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) chasing spotted hyaena (Crocutta crocutta) during migration time. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

Eric Baccega / Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) hunting an Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest, because it has a broken leg (Connochaetes taurinus). Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

Eric Baccega / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) covered in blood and mud after feeding on a kill of Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

Eric Baccega / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) killing an Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

Eric Baccega / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) killing an Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

Eric Baccega / Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) hunting in an Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest herd (Connochaetes taurinus). Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

Eric Baccega / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) killing a young Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

Chase Dekker / Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) pair feeding on Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) bones, Masai Mara, Kenya

Ann & Steve Toon / Brown hyaena (Hyaena brunnea), Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa.

Tony Heald / Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) cub, portrait. Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Suzi Eszterhas / Brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea) mother and cub at den, Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Botswana

Richard Du Toit / Brown Hyena (Hyaena brunnea), Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

Richard Du Toit / Brown Hyena (Hyaena brunnea), Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

Andy Rouse / Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) fighting over hippo carcass in water, Masai Mara, Kenya

Andy Rouse / Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) fighting over hippo carcass in water, Masai Mara, Kenya

Andy Rouse / Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) dominant alpha female on kill, Masai Mara, Kenya

Denis-Huot / Lion (Panthera leo), in conflict with a group of Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) on a kill at sunrise, Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya

Denis-Huot / Lion (Panthera leo), in conflict with a group of Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) on a kill at sunrise, Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya

Guy Edwardes / Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa. black and white

Ann & Steve Toon / Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta), Khwai conservancy, Okavango delta, Botswana, August