Family planning? Why hyenas are castrating buffaloes in Aberdares

A hyena is captured strolling in a reserve [File/Standard]

Forget lions as the kings of the jungle for a moment.

In the Aberdare forest, hyenas have taken up a new and rather shocking hobby: castrating buffaloes.

Yes, you read that right.

According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), these cunning predators are no longer bringing down full-grown buffalo.

Instead, they've discovered a much easier (and far more brutal) tactic, targeting the low-hanging scrotum.

KWS Director-General Dr. Erastus Kanga says the phenomenon is now a major conservation threat, with "tens of buffaloes" rendered reproductively useless over the past few months.

"The hyenas that cannot bring down buffaloes are going for the low-lying scrotum," he explained during a conference at the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) in Naivasha.

With fewer buffalo able to procreate, the population is at risk; not from poaching or drought, but from surgical strikes by hyenas.

"We need to start doing research and look at how artificial intelligence and technology can be able to help us not only mitigate, but prevent these human rights conflicts," Kanga said.

On his part, WRTI Director Dr Patrick Omondi said that the institute, with the stakeholders, had completed the national wildlife census, with the final results expected next month.

He termed the exercise as successful, adding that the researchers were working on the data with the results expected in the next scientific conference in Naivasha.

"We have agreed that we'll take the lead on the national census in collaboration with KWS, and next week we'll be analyzing and interpreting the results to update the 2021 results," he said.

However, the seriousness of the matter hasn't stopped Kenyans online from turning it into comedy gold.

On Facebook, Wainaina Gitau quipped, "Can you pass the mic to the buffalo... did you consider they could be practising family planning?"

Symoh Kamau added, "I don't believe in hearsay unless I listen to the hyenas' side of the story."

"The hyenas went for the softer and most juicy part. Whoever gave this secret to hyenas must have earned much from them in return," Shivachi General joked.

Another, Luke Yego, opined, "KWS should invent a device which will protect the buffalo's testicles. Otherwise we may soon lose our Buffalo"

A quick search online reveals that hyenas employ "brutally effective method to incapacitate their prey", effectively causing immense pain and shock, and making it easier for the hyenas to take down an animal that is much larger and stronger than they are.

In this case, the buffalo.

However, this is not exclusive to hyenas, as other predators, like lions, may also target the rear of their prey for similar reasons.