Wherever I look there’s hyenas.
I get the feeling that they could suddenly
pack and get together and grab you.
This might not be the cleverest thing I’ve
ever done.
Here goes nothing.
I’M AUSTIN STEVENS.
I’VE SPENT 20 YEARS TACKLING SNAKES BUT
I’VE NEVER FACED AN ANIMAL LIKE THIS.
I’LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET MY PHOTOGRAPH.
I’ve got another hyena here.
Austin:
Wherever you are in Africa, you have a notorious
neighbour - the Hyena.
I’ve come to Ethiopia on the trail of a
fantastic photograph.
Just look what I’ve stumbled into here.
Austin:
I’ve never seen so many hyenas close to
me.
These are spotted Hyenas and these are the
second biggest predator in Africa, powerful
animals, incredible animals….they just keep
following me……give me a heart attack.
What worries me is that when these guys do
get together in a pack – they’re fearless,
they’re absolutely fearless.
These animals are known to chase lions off
their kills, so what chance have I got?
You get the feeling they could suddenly pack
and get together and grab you!
I don’t want that.
I don’t like them being behind me.
They’re known to attack animal, bring down
large animals like buffalo.
Ah, look at this.
They tell you we’re in hyena country or
what?
They’re right here.
Look at this.
Doesn’t that make your blood chill?
It is an animal known to take man – they’ve
taken kids, they’ve taken babies, they’ve
taken young adults and sick people.
I’m worried about staying too close.
I just want to take a few shots because the
opportunity is unbelievable.
You feel like you can just touch them watch
how he comes to me.
I might be pushing my luck a bit here, but
if I keep dead still they come closer.
You get to a point that you can see it in
their eyes – they look and they’re trying
to decide now should I go and grab or should
I go?
As long as he doesn’t eat me, I’m not
worried either.
Look he’s coming.
I actually touched him, I actually touched,
it’s not a clever thing to do!
GETTING THIS CLOSE TO HYENAS IS REMARKABLE
AND THERE’S ONLY ONE PLACE IN THE WORLD
WHERE IT CAN HAPPEN.
THE ANCIENT WALLED CITY OF HARER IS LOCATED
WAY UP ON A HILLTOP IN THE ETHIOPEAN HIGHLANDS.
FOR CENTURIES THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN LIVING
SIDE BY SIDE WITH HYENAS.
TODAY A FRAGILE TRUCE EXISTS BETWEEN THEM.
THE LOCALS BELIEVE THAT APPEASING THE HYENAS
APPETITE IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THEM ATTACKING
BOTH LIVESTOCK AND THE HARERI THEMSELVES.
BUTSE IS ONE OF A LONG LINE OF PEOPLE WHO
FEED THESE DANGEROUS PREDATORS.
BY HAND.
Austin:
Look at this, can you believe this?… they’re
taking it right out of his hand
RELATIVE TO THEIR BODY SIZE HYENAS HAVE THE
MOST POWERFUL JAWS OF ANY LAND CARNIVORE.
Austin:
If those teeth close on your hands, your hand
goes with that piece of meat!
Can I do this, can I do one with my hand?
I’m going to try and do it myself.
I must be careful.
Ahh!
Bad news, oh do you see those teeth, you cannot
believe it…one is gentle one is quick, that
makes me nervous, he’s got a bad mouth.
And you get a fright when he comes to you
and he grabs you and you just see those teeth.
That’s nerve racking stuff.
HYENAS CAN EXERT WELL OVER A THOUSAND POUNDS
OF PRESSURE IN A SINGLE BITE.
BUT BUTSE KNOWS THESE HYENAS WELL AND IS PREPARED
TO GET VERY, VERY CLOSE.
Austin:
You won’t do that.
Oh my, can you believe this guy, this is incredible.
I’ve never seen anything like this in my
life before.
Austin:
Stunning.
Right here on the edge of the City, the Mosque
going off over there, Hyenas being fed by
hand with raw meat, vultures gathering all
around here.
It’s the most unbelievable scene I’ve
ever experienced.
Just goes to show, animals and people can
co-exist, you’ve just got to feed them well!
HARER IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD WHERE
HYENAS ARE FED LIKE THIS.
BUT ACCORDING TO LOCAL LEGEND THE PRACTICE
HAS A DARK HISTORY
CENTURIES AGO A TERRIBLE FAMINE SWEPT THROUGH
THE REGION.
HYENAS CAME INTO THE CITY TO SCAVENGE HUMAN
CORPSES.
THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THEM WAS TO FEED THEM
SCRAPS.
ONCE THEY GOT USED TO BEING FED, THE HYENAS
NEVER LEFT.
BUT TODAY MERE SCRAPS AREN’T ENOUGH.
A SINGLE HYENA CAN EAT UP TO FIFTEEN KILOGRAMS
OF MEAT IN ONE SITTING.
EVERY DAY AT SUNRISE THE LOCAL SLAUGHTER HOUSE
DONATES ITS REJECTS.
Austin:
They’re waiting, look at them all waiting.
That’s why there’s such a tremendous gathering
of hyenas here
HYENAS HAVE NO NATURAL PREDATORS.
THEY’RE TOP OF THEIR FOOD CHAIN.
AND CONSUME EVERY PART OF A CARCASS – EVEN
BONES THE BONES
Austin:
It’s really incredible to see this from
so close.
I hope he knows the difference between those
bones and mine – that’s all.
HYENAS USUALLY HUNT FOR THEIR OWN FOOD, OFTEN
EATING THEIR PREY WHILE IT IS STILL ALIVE.
BUT THEY ARE ALSO OPPORTUNISTS PREPARED TO
FEED ON WHATEVER THEY FIND.
Austin:
Of course, hyenas are known to be scavengers
but this is quite unnatural of course because
everything has been dumped here – and they’re
waiting for it and they expect it and they
get fed everyday.
It’s fantastic to see this but I know it’s
not natural behaviour.
THESE HYENAS HAVE ADAPTED TO LIVING NEAR PEOPLE
SO THEY’RE NOT TRULY WILD.
AND IT’S WILD HYENAS I WANT.
SO AS THEY GRAB THEIR LAST SCRAPS AND BEGIN
TO SCATTER BACK INTO THE BUSH, I DECIDE TO
LEAVE THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF THE CITY BEHIND
AND FOLLOW THEM INTO THEIR TERRITORY.
THESE HYENAS ARE USED TO BEING AROUND PEOPLE
IN THE CITY, BUT OUT HERE ON THEIR TURF THEY
COULD BE AS TERRITORIAL AS ANY WILD ANIMAL.
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY MIGHT REACT TO ME
FOLLOWING THEM.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT OUT HERE HYENAS KILL DOZENS
OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR!
Austin:
They’ve scattered all over hills here.
I’m finding hyenas in every direction.
They’ve eaten themselves full, now going
to find their places of sleep.
BUT THEY’RE KEEPING AN EYE ON ME.
HYENA PACKS ARE LED BY THE FEMALES – THEY’RE
LARGER AND MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN MALES – AND
THEY GUARD AGAINST INTRUDERS.
Austin:
Watch how she just watches me.
Notice how she moves away slightly, not too
nervous of me, just hanging around one spot
as if this is where she sleeps for the day,
see how she’s settling down, actually lying
down in my presence here.
A wild hyena in the field in the wild that’s
never been in contact with humans, would never
let you come this close, not a chance.
Austin:
But she doesn’t mind me being right here.
This is just fantastic.
Look at her eyes, so sleepy, she just wants
to put her head down but listening for sounds,
keeping a check … This is what generally
hyenas like to do, feed at night, sleep in
the day.
It’s very interesting to get some pictures
of Hyena in the daylight, good stuff….Like
a big cuddly bear want to take her home with
me.
…..Good stuff.
IT’S PRACTICALLY UNHEARD OF TO GET PICTURES
OF HYENAS IN DAYLIGHT LIKE THIS.
BUT THESE ARE NOT THE PHOTOS I CAME FOR.
Austin:
Of course these hyenas are semi-habituated
and they’re accustomed to people, and they
survive here by scavenging only.
I’VE BUILT MY REPUTATION ON GETTING CLOSE
UP SHOTS OF DANGEROUS WILD ANIMALS AND TO
DO THAT I’LL NEED TO LEAVE HARER.
Austin:
What I’d like to do and what I’m going
to do is I’d like to go out into the wilds
of Ethiopia where there are real wild hyenas,
clanned hyenas living around a den area, and
I want to get really close to these dens.
If possible I want to get within 20 foot of
these dens in daylight and record their behaviour
on film.
But to see this I’m going to have to go
to one of the driest, harshest areas of Ethiopia.
I’M HEADING WEST FROM HARER INTO THE FAMOUS
RIFT VALLEY.
THIS IS RUGGED TERRAIN - PARCHED SCRUBLAND
WHERE TEMPERATURES REACH OVER FORTY DEGREES!
THE ANIMALS THAT SURVIVE OUT HERE HAVE TO
BE TOUGH.
Austin:
These are Hamadryas Baboons , I’ve never
seen so many together in one place.
There must be literally hundreds of them.
THERE SEEMS TO BE TROUBLE BREWING.
Austin:
Watch them go, watch them go…
Listen to the noise…
Two or three clans come together start fighting.
…They are fighting, running, fighting, stopping,
fighting, running, it’s incredible.
HERE IT’S THE MALES THAT ARE DOMINANT, AND
THEY ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, FIGHTING OVER
BOTH FEMALES AND TERRITORY.
Austin:
Here they go again, watch them go, always
big dominant males fighting with each other
What a gathering, what a gathering…
BUT IT STOPS AS QUICKLY AS IT STARTED.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN CALM IS RESTORED.
MY STRATEGY TO FIND WILD HYENAS IS TO TRACK
DOWN THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEM BEST.
THE AFAR TRIBE SHARE THIS LANDSCAPE WITH THE
HYENA AND THEIR LIFESTYLE MAKES THEM VULNERABLE
TO ATTACK.
Austin:
…They keep goats, they keep camels and they
keep cattle.
They have a lot of interaction with hyenas,
Hyenas actually take their livestock sometimes.
So I’m hoping that spending time with them,
not only might I come across some hyenas but
they might also be able to guide me to where
there might be clans of hyenas.
BUT I’M NERVOUS.
I’VE
HEARD THE AFAR ARE NOTORIOUSLY WARY OF OUTSIDERS.
JUST AS I’M CONTEMPLATING MY FIRST MOVE
, THERE’S A DISTURBANCE IN SOME NEARBY BUSHES.
Austin:
It’s a Puff Adder…It’s a puff adder
When I hear a commotion like that I know it’s
a snake, let’s get him out there.
Cause he’s got himself all tangled up inside
the bush here and he’s trying to get away.
He’s so perfectly calm, I’ve got him.
Got him, but he’s pulling against me, you
must be very, very careful.
…This is potentially the most dangerous
snake in Africa, The reason I say that because
these snakes bite more people than any other
snake in Africa…got him.
Austin:
What a beaut, look how beautiful the markings
are on that snake.
Look underneath at this gorgeous pattern,
look how beautiful markings are, and on top
beautiful chevrons, look at those chevrons
over there.
Settle down old girl.
I saw that the tail is quite short and thick,
it’s one of the snakes that is easy to identify
if male or female, see how short the tail
is?
The vent is right there where my finger is,
and the tail is only short like that, short
little fat tail it means it’s a female.
You would find the male would have a long
thin tail.
Not that anybody normally wants to sex a venomous
snake but it’s something of interest…
Isn’t it beautiful, that’s the problem
with these snakes, they are so well camouflaged,
when this snake disappears in to the grass
he literally does that, disappears, you don’t
see the snake.
Another thing they don’t move out the way,
this is the biggest problem.
You’ve got a snake sitting in a pathway
doesn’t move out of the way, almost invisible,
people step on them.
And of course he has a lightening fast strike
and very big fangs and a very, very powerful
poison.
You take a drop of this venom, even a drop
or two would be enough to kill an adult human
being.
I’m going to go and release her a little
bit further away.
Away from the cattle, away from the people.
What a well behaved snake, eh?
I’m going to release her right here.
This will give you an idea of what I’m talking
about watch how she disappears in to this
grass.
Off you go girl.
Thank you for being so gentle, a nice snake.
Tickle your tail and send you on your way….Watch
her disappearing…off she goes.
MOVING THE SNAKE AWAY FROM THE ENCAMPMENT
APPEARS TO HAVE WON OVER THE AFAR.
CAUTIOUSLY THEY LEAD ME INTO THEIR SETTLEMENT.
IT SEEMS I’M HONOURED – THEY’VE INVITED
ME TO TAKE PART IN A TRADITIONAL COFFEE -DRINKING
CEREMONY.
Austin:
Salam, salam…
THESE ARE THE TRIBAL ELDERS AND I’M HOPING
THEY’LL HAVE THE ANSWERS I’M LOOKING FOR…
THEY HAVE TO KEEP A CONSTANT LOOK-OUT FOR
HYENAS TO PROTECT THEIR LIVESTOCK.
SO IF ANYONE CAN TELL ME WHERE TO FIND THEM,
IT’S THESE GUYS
Austin:
Umm sweet, sweet for sugar…
BUT THIS IS TRICKY – I DON’T SPEAK AFAR.
WE’RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO COMMUNICATE
AS BEST WE CAN…
Austin:
So I need to know about Hyenas,
AFAR:
MMMM, mmm (mimics hyena)
Austin:
I want to know if your cows – Moo Moo, if
the Hyenas eat them?
Does a hyena eat them?
Yah that’s what I thought.
THEY LEAVE ME IN NO DOUBT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF A HYENA APPROACHED THEIR CAMP.
Austin:
So if you see a hyena and it goes for your
cow….your cattle, then you’re going to
shoot him.
BUT I WANT TO KNOW HOW DANGEROUS WILD HYENAS
ARE WHEN THEY’RE NOT AFTER CATTLE.
Austin:
If I want to go in with hyenas, me – I can
do it?
Or it’s dangerous?
They kill me.
Go underneath.
I’d be dead.
MY HOSTS SEEM TO THINK I’M MAD FOR EVEN
GOING NEAR A DEN.
BUT THEY DO KNOW WHERE WILD HYENAS LIVE AND
HAVE AGREED TO POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
Austin:
AS: So I must go out this way – Fantalle
– right by the volcanoes.
Thank-you.
FANTALLE IS THE NAME OF THE DORMANT VOLCANO
I CAN SEE ON THE HORIZON.
AND AS BEST I CAN TELL, THAT’S WHERE THEY’RE
SUGGESTING I GO NEXT.
Austin:
I will find them.
I will find them.
Yeah.
MY JOURNEY TAKES ME ALONG THE AWASH RIVER,
ONE OF THE LARGEST IN ETHIOPIA.
Austin:
Look at this, can you believe this, isn’t
it incredible?
In this harsh dry land, I mean everything
around here is dry there’s a stream of water
coming through.
It’s obvious there’s been a lot of rain
inland, in the higher ground and it’s all
flowing through here and it’s cascading
over in to this waterfall.
This Awash river running through the centre
of this dry land.
It actually attracts all the game.
And where there’s game there’s predators
and that’s what I’m looking for.
ONE VERY CRAFTY ANIMAL IS DRAWN TO THIS LUSH
AREA.
SO WHILE I’M HERE THERE’S SOMETHING I
WANT YOU TO SEE.
THESE ARE OLIVE BABOONS.
Austin:
They’ve got a very organised social structure,
very much like the Hyenas.
The only difference is the males are dominant
here.
They’re the guys you’ve got to watch out
for.
They’re powerful and they’ve got big teeth
like that and these guys you’ve got to watch
out for, these are guys you don’t fool with.
I’ve got a little surprise for them here.
They’re pretty organized these guys, you’re
going to see this, I’m going to put down
my bread, a little piece of bread and they’re
going to try and distract me on the one side
while others try to sneak up and swipe the
bread.
I’ve seen this happen a number of times
and I suspect it might happen here as well.
So they’re all pretending not to pay any
attention to me and they’re all grooming
and fooling around and having a nice morning
relax and I’m just going to put this bread
down right here.
Very quiet, everybody busy and I’ll just
go about business of taking photographs.
These two over here are just grooming away.
They’re all gathering around and there’s
a lot of them.
Going to be the big one that does it…
NOW WATCH.
AS THE STRAIGHT FORWARD APPROACH HASN’T
WORKED THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING
A BIT SNEAKIER
Austin:
They are going to make a distraction…There’s
a fight.
Watch those guys go, fantastic did you seem
them fight.
Hey where’s my bread?
Oh man.
I’m watching the guys fighting over there
was that on purpose, did they plan that.
Did he come and grab that from behind me knowing
that I was being distracted over there?
It’s hard to tell but look at this face.
He knows he’s got me…
Well that’s one way to get your close-up
photograph
These are scary guys…
JUST GOES TO SHOW – YOU SHOULD NEVER TAKE
WILD ANIMALS FOR GRANTED.
I’D DO WELL TO REMEMBER THAT.
FINALLY I ARRIVE NEAR THE BASE OF THE VOLCANO
WHERE THE AFAR SAID I’D FIND THE HYENAS.
FROM HERE ON IN, MY SEARCH NEEDS TO CONTINUE
ON FOOT.
AND THAT MEANS LEAVING THE RELATIVE SAFETY
OF MY TRUCK.
I START BY SCOURING THE AREA FOR SIGNS OF
HYENA ACTIVITY.
Austin:
I’m seeing some slight imprints and definitely
a trail…yes, that’s what I’m looking
for, perfect Hyena prints…Ground is hard
here and I’m battling to see the prints
clearly but here’s a perfect print, here’s
more, obviously they’ve been smudged.
I would reckon that Hyenas are definitely
using this trail.
This is what the Afar said, come to this side
of the volcano
sun behind me, looking straight out that we’re
going towards the volcano yeah. it’s what
I’m looking for.
I’ve definitely got Hyena prints so I’m
definitely doing well …
AS I HEAD TOWARDS THE VOLCANO, THERE’S MORE
EVIDENCE THAT I’VE ENTERED HYENA TERRITORY.
Austin:
There we go, Hyena faeces, not that old either.
You can always tell a Hyenas faeces.
See how pale it is.
Hyenas have the power and the jaws to crush
bone and digest bone as well.
So you can always tell in their faeces, a
lot of calcium in there.
I’m definitely on the right trail.
THIS SEEMS LIKE THE PLACE I’VE BEEN SEARCHING
FOR.
BUT NOW THAT I’M HERE THE CHALLENGES OF
WHAT I’M TRYING TO ACHIEVE ARE REALLY STARTING
TO HIT HOME.
BECAUSE THIS ANIMAL IS WAY OUTSIDE MY AREA
OF EXPERTISE.
Austin:
Catching snakes doesn’t worry me, even highly
venomous snakes, they’re predictable, I
know how to work with them.
The Hyena might be something completely different.
You can’t catch a Hyena and hold him in
my hands.
Unpredictable animal, I have no idea what
to expect.
BUT WITH THE LIGHT FADING FAST I’LL HAVE
TO WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW TO TRY AND FIND A DEN
SITE.
CONDITIONS THE NEXT MORNING ARE TYPICAL FOR
THIS PART OF THE RIFT VALLEY.
Austin:
Wow, It’s really hot today, exceptionally
hot, and there’s a wind blowing across the
plains, which is dry, and makes everything
feel brittle.
The Hyenas have got the right idea they’re
tucked in their dens way under ground where
it’s really cool.
They’ll stay there the whole day and will
come out this evening…
WHILE MOST CREATURES ARE SHELTERING FROM THIS
INTENSE HEAT, I’M GOING TO TRY TO FIND A
HYENA DEN.
ONLY A FEW SHRUBS GROW OUT HERE AND WHAT ANIMALS
THERE ARE SEEK SHADE WHEREVER THEY CANFIND
IT.
Austin:
See these termite mounds, it’s a favourite
haunt of animals.
They dig out an old termite mound that is
not being used by the termites anymore.
You might find all kinds of little animals
going inside places like this.
But there’s something that’s been digging
here during the night.
May have been a porcupine, it could have been
anything.
Something fooling around here.
Ha, look what I’ve got.
Oh, look at that.
Look at that!
That’s a little sand boa.
Very different from the boa’s you’d expect
to see when you’re in the, ouch, he’s
trying to take a bite at me, oh look at that.
He’s really mad.
He says I’ve pulled him out of the sand.
They’re very different to the boa constrictors
you’d expect to find in the Americas, climbing
the trees, you know the big snakes like this.
These are tiny little guys.
Most people think boa constrictors are always
big, yet in Africa we only have one genus
of boa and this is him.
Isn’t he fantastic and he doesn’t get
much bigger then this either.
Gorgeous look at him.
He’s pretty oh look at him he’s so cross,
ouch, look at that, you’re cross with me,
bit me right on the finger.
Okay, relax, relax, we’ve got to let him
go to calm down.
They are basically fossorial snakes, they
live most of their lives under the sand.
You can see, I’m just going to catch him
behind the head.
See he head he has a sharp little nose over
there and that’s sharp little edge is capable
of burrowing under the sand and he moves under
the sand and sometimes he’ll just stick
his head up and he’ll catch lizards and
sometimes tiny little baby mice and stuff
and he’ll feed on that.
Oh but he’s absolutely gorgeous but he’s
really wild he doesn’t like being pulled
out of there.
Look at my finger bleeding there.
What have you done?
Of course they’re not venomous like all
they pythons and boas, they’re harmless
snakes.
But they have teeth like you can see there,
even a little guy like this has got enough
teeth to actually defend himself, to actually
bite with.
Look at that, oh he’s so cute, he’s so
gorgeous.
The top, ouch, stop doing that.
He’s saying he’s going to bite this guy
continuously until he lets me go.
I’m going to put him right back here.
If you watch and he gets the feeling of the
sand, see how he digs himself in straight
away?
Watch him go under, he says I don’t want
to be on the surface, I want to get out.
And he disappears just like that.
Incredible.
Yeah I’m going to leave you alone now, don’t
worry.
That was fantastic.
I CONTINUE MY SEARCH.
LIKE THE BOA, HYENAS HAVE TO TAKE COVER FROM
THE SUN.
SO IT’S NO SURPRISE THEY MIGHT HAVE CHOSEN
THIS AREA - THE UNUSUAL ROCK FORMATIONS PROVIDE
PERFECT SHELTER.
THIS CREVASSE WOULD MAKE AN IDEAL PLACE FOR
A DEN.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’LL ENCOUNTER DOWN
THERE, BUT THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND
OUT…
Austin:
Look at this place – I don’t like going
into places like this but I have to have a
look and see what’s further down here.
Austin:
So much cooler down here than up on the surface.
Big difference in temperature.
Almost looks like no-one’s ever been down
here before, but I have noticed Hyena prints,
animals have been down here…
THIS FISSURE COULD GO ON FOR MILES AND IT’S
QUITE EERIE BEING IN SUCH A CONFINED SPACE,
KNOWING THERE MIGHT BE HYENAS AROUND THE NEXT
CORNER.
BUT, DESPITE THE FOOTPRINTS, I SEE NO OBVIOUS
SIGNS OF A DEN.
Austin:
This Fissure is finally coming to an end and
it’s narrowing.
Oh I don’t like this.
It’s closing up completely.
IT SEEMS I’VE COME TO A DEAD END.
IT’S ALMOST A RELIEF TO GET BACK TO SEARCHING
AT GROUND LEVEL DESPITE THE BLISTERING TEMPERATURES
UP THERE.
Austin:
Have a look at this, that’s interesting.
There’s something you don’t see too often.
This is fur, fur and hooves of animals.
Hooves of small animals that the Hyenas of
eaten.
When hyenas have a fur build up, too much,
they can’t digest, they actually bring it
up.
This is interesting the hoof actually has
hair wrapped up right inside it.
So it’s all gathered in his stomach and
not being able to digest and eventually brought
it up.
That’s a sure sign that animals are staying
in this one place for long periods.
Austin:
This looks very promising, I’ve got footprints
everywhere, definitely signs of activity Just
coming up here, I can see a cleared space.
This whole area has been churned up with feet.
And there’s a hole, there’s a hole…
Austin:
Oh yes, this is it, look at the size of this
cavern.
There’s a million Hyena prints around here,
signs of them pulling things, dragging things,
rolling around here.
I’ve got to stick my head in and have a
look…
ALL THE SIGNS ARE RIGHT.
BUT I HAVE TO GET CLOSER TO CONFIRM THAT THIS
IS AN ACTIVE DEN.
Austin:
It’s enormous, goes all the way back there.
I can hear them, I can hear their voices all
around.
I’m not going to push my luck any more than
that but this is the place, this is where
the hyenas are.
This space and there’s caves and caverns
going off in all directions, could be a hundred
Hyenas in here, this is the place I must stake
out…
HYENAS ONLY REALLY BEGIN STIRRING AT DUSK,
AS THEY’RE GETTING READY TO HUNT.
BUT I’VE GOT A PLAN TO LURE THEM OUT OF
THE DEN IN DAYLIGHT.
Austin:
I’ve got a couple of recordings here of
lambs in distress, lions on a kill this always
excites Hyenas.
They know if there’s a lion on a kill they
go next.
So I’m going to play these and just see
what happens.
HALF AN HOUR GONE, AND THEY DON’T SEEM TEMPTED
BY MY LAMB SOUNDS.
I’LL TRY ‘LION ON A KILL’.
LIONS AND HYENAS ARE SWORN ENEMIES, FREQUENTLY
FIGHTING OVER FOOD.
THIS SHOULD STIR THEIR INTEREST.
Austin:
Here that?
Definitely young ones.
There’s young ones in there.
I must be really careful don’t want a female
to think I’m threatening young ones, that
would be dangerous.
As with any animals in the wild don’t threaten
their young, then you’re in trouble.
Can you hear them calling?
Shuffling around, maybe their moving them
now, maybe they’re a bit nervous, maybe
their picking up my smell or maybe their getting
ready to come out.
I’m not having much success otherwise but
now that gives me something to wait for, I’m
going to hang on a little bit longer.
I’m going to see what happens.
Listen to that, Wow, there’s some serious
Hyenas in there.
THAT COULD BE A WARNING OR A THREAT.
HYENA CALLS HAVE MANY DIFFERENT MEANINGS.
AS NIGHT FALLS THEY SHOULD BE COMING OUT OF
THE DEN TO HUNT.
BUT FOR SOME REASON, THEY’RE NOT PLAYING
BALL.
Austin:
They’re not coming out while I’m here.
It’s not working I’ve got cramp from waiting
here.
I’m going to have to reconsider this and
come back tomorrow and see if I can think
of something else.
These guys are pretty wise.
I SPEND THE NEXT DAY PONDERING HOW TO GET
MY PHOTO.
FINALLY I DECIDE ON A RADICAL NEW IDEA.
Austin:
I’m trying a different tactic now; I’m
actually going into their cave.
They won’t come out to me so I’m going
into them.
I’m building this rig.
I’ve got an infra-red light compacting camera
and spare wheel what’s left of it.
And I’m going to put it inside the cave
and I’m just going to leave it.
Going to put rocks each side and I’m just
going to stand it up there.
I’m just going to let them go mad see what
the Hyenas are doing in there while I’m
outside looking on in.
BUT THERE’S ONE BIG HITCH IN MY PLAN.
I HAVE TO GET THE CAMERA INSIDE THE DEN.
I’VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE
– I’M NOT SURE ANYONE HAS.
ENTERING A WILD HYENA DEN IS A VERY DANGEROUS
MOVE.
Austin:
I’m connecting everything up now……..getting
the infrared running, the light and the camera
at the same time.
Of course when I’m in there I don’t want
to waste a mintue I want to get out as fast
as possible.
these guys must be waking up around now.
Everything’s running smoothly.
Here goes nothing.
This might not be the cleverest thing I’ve
ever done.
But I’m going to do it anyway because my
curiosity has got the better of me.
I want to see what’s going on in here at
night.
This thing weighs a tonne…
Austin:
Got eyes looking straight at me.
There’s at least one Hyena at least on guard.
I’m still going to go in.
They’re right at the back.
They’re getting ready to come out that’s
for sure.
I’ve got to do this quickly.
I think that Hyena’s a guard, I’m sure
she’s a guard because she just stays there.
I DEFINITELY HEARD CUBS CALLING LAST NIGHT
SO I HAVE TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL.
HYENA FEMALES WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO PROTECT
THEIR YOUNG.
Austin:
She’s moving around.
She’s getting a bit edgy about me being
here…
IF THAT HYENA DECIDES I’M A THREAT SHE COULD
COVER THE SHORT DISTANCE BETWEEN US IN A MATTER
OF SECONDS.
I HAVE TO WORK QUICKLY.
Austin:
Just in case they get curious and they start
fooling around here, I don’t want it to
roll.
I’m getting the heck out of here.
MY INFRARED CAMERA IS SAFELY INSTALLED IN
THE HYENA DEN.
Austin:
All I can do now is hope….watch and hope
Austin:
I’ve got about one hour, by this time ten
minutes less than one hour and that’s all
the time I’ve got because I’m not going
down there to change that tape, that’s for
sure.
So I hope all the squabbling I heard last
night will maybe happen again tonight.
And the sun has just set down it’s perfect
timing.
Austin:
Look at this, I can just see the first Hyena,
just its ears coming forward….they’re,
exploring, checking out everything before
the others come, I bet you….
It’s going away again.
That’s okay, she’s going to tell the others,
that’s alright.
They’re going to come out, you watch.
I know it’s going to happen…
BUT THEN IT ALL GOES QUIET AGAIN.
AS THE MINUTES TICK BY IT SEEMS THAT JUST
LIKE LAST NIGHT THE HYENAS ARE KEEPING A LOW
PROFILE
…..UNTIL….
Austin:
Watch this, watch this…here comes a second
one….I’ve got two on screen at the one
time isn’t that fantastic.
I’d love them to come close to the camera.
The ears are so finally tuned that they probably
can hear the camera and see the light.
They just don’t know what it is.
I’ve got the first one coming close to camera.
There you are.
These guys have been giving me the run around,
got him right in my lens.
More eyes in the background waiting.
Always one curious one bringing the other
in.
He really wants to know what’s going on
here.…
Please come back, please come back…He’s
coming to look at the camera.. his head keeps
popping in to the lens every now and then.
And a rock fell down there, he kicked the
rock down.
Look at the dust behind him.
THE CLAN IS DEFINITELY BECOMING MORE ACTIVE.
Austin:
I’ve only got fifteen minutes of tape left…..this
one’s coming right in…he’s coming to
look at the camera……
He’s stunningly beautiful…just look at
that….wow, he stood right in front of the
lens I think they’re heading out the door
but they’re very nervous, taking their time,
one going out at a time eventually.
MORE AND MORE HYENAS SEEM TO BE EMERGING FROM
THE TUNNELS AT THE BACK OF THE CAVE AND HEADING
TO THE ENTRANCE.
WHICH MEANS THEY COULD BE HEADING STRAIGHT
FOR ME.
Austin:
Listen to them calling, they’re calling
all the time…and it’s pitch black where
I’m sitting, pitch black…with just my
little monitor…it’s quite an eerie feeling
to say the least…
SUDDENLY THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE CAVE CHANGES.
Austin:
Watch him run, he’s running right across….like
something spooked him….it’s like there
was a little tussle or something and he just
screamed across the lens…
THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE HYENAS OUTSIDE CHANGES
TOO.
Austin:
Can hear Hyenas calling all around me, all
around.
There’s obviously a lot of hyenas in the
field here.
I SUDDENLY BECOME AWARE THAT THEY CAN SEE
EXACTLY WHERE I AM.
THEIR NIGHT VISION IS AS SHARP AS THEIR DAY
VISION.
IT SEEMS THEY’VE TURNED THE TABLES AND NOW
THEY’RE WATCHING ME.
I CAN HEAR THEM ALL AROUND ME.
TIME TO GO……BUT NOT WITHOUT MY CAMERA.
Austin:
I don’t like doing this but I don’t want
to leave it until morning in case they chew
something….from what I could see on the
camera the cave is empty but all these hyenas
are hanging around here so I’m not sure
what’s going on.
A couple of bats in here but I don’t see
any hyenas at the moment.
Problem is they’re all outside and I don’t
know why they’re waiting…..oh there’s
one…we’ve got a Hyena, I’ve got another
Hyena in here.
This is what worries me I don’t know how
many animals are in and out of here.
I’ve got to get my rig, got to keep an eye.
I don’t trust this one bit….
Austin:
It’s fantastic; I’m just looking at some
of the footage shot in the cave tonight.
I’m really pleased with it actually.
I came all this way thinking I must get a
shot of these hyenas in daylight coming out
of their cave and I just couldn’t get that
right and I was very disappointed at first
but then I got this idea to put this camera
right inside the cave and actually to go inside
the cave where these hyenas are living.
That’s fantastic.
I’m really pleased especially the shots
where the Hyena came right up to the lens
like that.
IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT WE CAME TO AN ARRANGEMENT,
THE HYENAS AND ME.
THEY’D KEPT THEIR DISTANCE AND NOW IT WAS
MY TURN TO DO THE SAME.
Austin:
There’s something very special about these
animals.
I’ve developed a very special feeling for
them.
I CAN’T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I WALKED
AWAY FROM AN ASSIGNMENT WITHOUT GETTING THE
PHOTOGRAPH I WANTED.
BUT I’D PUSHED IT AS FAR AS I COULD WITH
THESE PREDATORS - FURTHER THAN WAS WISE.
WHAT I GOT INSTEAD WAS AN EXPERIENCE THAT
FEW PEOPLE WILL EVER LIVE TO TELL AND A VISION
OF HYENAS MORE VIVID THAN ANY PHOTOGRAPH.
