Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

node · earth · Serengeti–Mara ecosystem

The Serengeti's most numerous large carnivore, and the one whose behaviour is most visibly shaped by the migration. Hofer and East's long-term study described a commuting system: hyenas hold permanent clan territories containing a communal den, but spend 46–62% of the year travelling to whichever migratory herds are nearest. Lactating females must return to the den to nurse cubs that depend on milk for at least a year, so their commuting effort exceeds that of other adults by at least 2.6-fold. This is why resident predators cannot simply follow the herds south and take the calf crop.