Young striped hyenas do not learn to hunt dangerous prey like scorpions on their own; they are taught by adults.
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| Striped hyenas become independent at 3 months of age. (Photo: BBC) |
Researchers have found that adult striped hyenas bring back prey remains for their young. As the young grow older, the adults help them subdue the prey. Eventually, they guide the young to hunt for themselves.
Researchers believe that striped hyenas are the second non-human species known to have such flexible teaching methods. The only other species recognized for teaching behaviors is ants, which help their peers find food sources.
A team at the University of Cambridge in the UK has spent several years studying wild striped hyenas in South Africa. They live in groups of up to 40 individuals in very arid conditions.
Most of the animals in the group are related, led by a pair of dominant individuals. These “teachers” slowly introduce the young to live prey.
“When the young are still small, the teachers bring dead prey, such as scorpions, lizards, and spiders; as they grow older, the teachers will bring disabled prey, for example, if it’s a scorpion, the teacher will bite off the venomous stinger before presenting it to their students,” said lead scientist Alex Thornton.
“Eventually, when the young reach independence, the adults will bring live food to force them to handle it on their own.”
Teaching can provide evolutionary benefits as it conveys skills and information that help the young survive, but it also comes at a cost to the adults. The teachers must invest time and effort in searching for food for themselves. Therefore, scientists suggest that teaching arises only when the young find it difficult to acquire information through observation.
M.T
