A centuries-old bond between humans and hyenas is keeping the city of Harar, Ethiopia, clean - and proving peaceful coexistence with wild animals is possible.
In Harar, humans and hyenas have lived side by side for centuries. Instead of chasing them away, locals feed these powerful scavengers by hand.
Every night, "hyena men" step into the darkness with baskets of meat, calling out to the animals - some by name - and offering them food.
The hyenas, in turn, clean up the city’s waste, reducing the spread of disease and even keeping more dangerous predators at bay.
In return, the hyenas remain surprisingly gentle around people.
While many cities struggle with human-wildlife conflict, Harar has embraced its wild neighbors.
The result? A harmonious, mutually beneficial relationship that has lasted for generations.
🔹 Hyenas help keep the city clean, acting as natural waste disposers.
🔹 Attacks on people are rare, as the hyenas associate humans with food, not fear.
🔹 Tourists now flock to Harar, fascinated by this ancient tradition.
Hyenas often get a bad reputation—portrayed in movies as cunning, villainous scavengers. But in reality, they are intelligent, highly social creatures with complex family structures and remarkable adaptability.
Harar’s story challenges the way we think about wildlife. Instead of assuming that wild animals and humans must always be in conflict, it shows that coexistence is possible when respect, tradition, and understanding come together.
In Harar, humans and hyenas have lived side by side for centuries. Instead of chasing them away, locals feed these powerful scavengers by hand.
Every night, "hyena men" step into the darkness with baskets of meat, calling out to the animals - some by name - and offering them food.
The hyenas, in turn, clean up the city’s waste, reducing the spread of disease and even keeping more dangerous predators at bay.
In return, the hyenas remain surprisingly gentle around people.
While many cities struggle with human-wildlife conflict, Harar has embraced its wild neighbors.
The result? A harmonious, mutually beneficial relationship that has lasted for generations.
🔹 Hyenas help keep the city clean, acting as natural waste disposers.
🔹 Attacks on people are rare, as the hyenas associate humans with food, not fear.
🔹 Tourists now flock to Harar, fascinated by this ancient tradition.
Hyenas often get a bad reputation—portrayed in movies as cunning, villainous scavengers. But in reality, they are intelligent, highly social creatures with complex family structures and remarkable adaptability.
Harar’s story challenges the way we think about wildlife. Instead of assuming that wild animals and humans must always be in conflict, it shows that coexistence is possible when respect, tradition, and understanding come together.
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