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The Last Laugh: Why Kenya's most detested carnivore deserves better

Close shot of a hyena standing. [Courtesy/GettyImages]

They are mocked in folklore, demonised in film, and dismissed as nature’s outcasts. But behind the menacing cackle and powerful jaws, hyenas are one of Kenya’s most misunderstood — yet ecologically vital carnivores.

According to the 2021 National Wildlife Census conducted by the Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya recorded a total of 5,147 hyenas across various ecosystems and protected areas. 

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