GPS collars reveal lions, not hyenas, initiate encounters in African savannah

A new study using GPS collars on 17 lions and 14 hyenas in Namibia and Botswana overturns the long-held assumption that hyenas follow lions for scraps. Lead author Nancy Barker of the University of KwaZulu-Natal found that male lions actively approach hyenas, which consistently move away. The findings, published in Frontiers in Ethology, show that the animals manage coexistence through continuous movement rather than dramatic clashes.

Bottom line — The study in Frontiers in Ethology tracked 31 collared animals across four years to map their hidden interactions.

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• Barker initially observed lions tracking hyenas during her Master's but was told she had the relationship backwards, per Gizmodo.
• GPS collars recorded positions every five minutes during peak activity hours, according to the study.
• The team identified 23 pairs of simultaneously tracked animals, including 10 lion-hyena pairs, per the press release.
• Three independent statistical tests confirmed hyenas consistently move away from lions, while male lions tend to move toward hyenas, Barker said.
• Female lions showed more ambivalent reactions, depending on which other pride members were present, the study notes.
• The evasive behavior by hyenas was detectable out to several kilometers, beyond normal observation range, according to Barker.
• Researchers caution that some findings should be viewed as trends due to a small sample size and the rigorous method of only using simultaneous GPS fixes.
• Barker hopes to extend the approach to other carnivore species to understand how entire communities negotiate space and risk, per the study.

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