Behaviour. Hyenas are highly social animals, living in complex matriarchal societies known as ‘clans’. A clan can consist of up to 80 individuals and is dominated by the alpha female.

What's more, female spotted hyenas are bigger and more aggressive than males. Every clan is a matriarchy ruled by an alpha female. In the clan's strict power structure, adult males rank last.

The spotted hyena is Africa's most successful predator—and one of its most misunderstood animals. But decades of cutting edge research is yielding greater understanding, respect, and protection.