Why it Sucks to Be Born A mail Hyena

This is Scarface, one of the hyenas I studied in Kenya. To be honest, like most male spotted hyenas, his life isn’t easy. Surprisingly, the best time for a male hyena is when he’s just a cub.

As young cubs, both male and female hyenas have it pretty good. They rank just below their mothers, who sit at the top of the clan’s social hierarchy—more on that later. This means they get access to plenty of food, safe sleeping spots, and lots of care. But as they grow older, especially for males, life gets much tougher.

Once male hyenas reach adulthood, they face a harsh reality. Unlike females, who stay in their birth clan and maintain their high status, males are forced to leave and join new clans. In these new groups, they start at the bottom of the social ladder, often facing competition for food and mating opportunities. For male hyenas, life as a cub is as good as it gets—after that, it’s a constant struggle to survive and thrive.