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Animal Guide

Spotted Hyena

37 destinations · 25 states

Native Range
Eastern and southern Africa

Spotted hyenas are often more expressive and active than their reputation suggests. Spend a few minutes watching them and you may see one sniffing around the habitat, greeting another with a nose-to-nose interaction, or suddenly breaking into a playful chase. Their sloping backs and powerful front legs give them an unusual shape, while their large ears swivel constantly toward sounds. The famous laughing-like call is actually a series of vocalizations used in different social situations, and hearing it at a zoo or wildlife destination can make the animal instantly recognizable. Look closely at the coat too. Each hyena has its own pattern of dark spots, and the variations become easier to notice when animals are resting together. Spotted hyenas live in complex social groups, and watching their interactions can be just as interesting as watching them feed. Their powerful jaws can crush bones, while their varied diet also includes fruit and other foods. Native to much of sub-Saharan Africa, they are remarkably adaptable animals with a lot more going on than their familiar reputation suggests.

Spotted Hyena

Where to see Spotted Hyena

37 destinations across 25 states

37 destinations

ABQ BioPark Zoo

Albuquerque, NM

Alligator Adventure

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Aloha Safari Park

Cameron, NC

Bronx Zoo

Bronx, NY

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Tampa, FL

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Powell, OH

Denver Zoo

Denver, CO

DeYoung Family Zoo

Wallace, MI

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Lake Buena Vista, FL

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

West Orange, NJ

Fort Wayne Zoo

Fort Wayne, IN

Franklin Park Zoo

Boston, MA

Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park

Naubinway, MI

Hattiesburg Zoo

Hattiesburg, MS

Irvine Park Zoo

Chippewa Falls, WI

Keystone Safari

Grove City, PA

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park

Halifax, PA

Metro Richmond Zoo

Moseley, VA

Milwaukee County Zoo

Milwaukee, WI

Monterey Zoo

Salinas, CA

Oakland Zoo

Oakland, CA

Oklahoma City Zoo

Oklahoma City, OK

Out of Africa Wildlife Park

Camp Verde, AZ

Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix, AZ

Riverside Discovery Center

Scottsbluff, NE

Rolling Hills Zoo

Salina, KS

Safari North Wildlife Park

Brainerd, MN

Saint Louis Zoo

St. Louis, MO

San Antonio Zoo

San Antonio, TX

Southwick's Zoo

Mendon, MA

Summerfield Zoo

Belvidere, IL

Sunset Zoo

Manhattan, KS

The Buffalo Zoo

Buffalo, NY

Wildlife World Zoo

Litchfield Park, AZ

Woodland Park Zoo

Seattle, WA

Zoo Miami

Miami, FL

Zoo World Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach, FL

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