Elephant Carcass Monday

Things in Serena have been a little quiet lately. According to Philomen, head cook and Serena camp mzee (swahili for "elder"), we are experiencing the worst draught since 1993. The hyenas have been spending their days sacked out in ditches and puddles, trying to escape the heat and stay close to water. They are too hot and lazy to even show up to the den to play or hang out, so we've had a definite lack of hyena excitement lately. This morning though, Happy Zebra clan stepped up to the challenge.

Eli and I had a great den session; a bunch of hyenas were there acting excited and fighting a little over an old piece of buffalo skin. The cub cohort in Happy Zebra is getting old enough to go on small adventures away from the den, as long as they have plenty of adult supervision. BOOM and JLYR took the youngsters for a wander, and we ended up following them to a nice watering hole where even more hyenas were hanging out and playing. We headed back from the den around 8:00am, already commenting that it was one of the best mornings we had had in a while.

On the way home, we started picking up Molly Ringwald's radio collar. We tracked her to the edge of the territory, where we could see ten hyenas sacked out across an uncrossable lugga. We drove back to the road, found a crossing, and drove back out to where we had seen the hyenas. As we neared we noticed that they were smelling considerably worse than normal, and we rounded a termite mound to find a giant elephant rump sticking out of the lugga. We had found a juvenile elephant carcass! Lions were lounging around the carcass, not feeding, but making sure the hyenas couldn't get a bite. The hyenas were biding their time, wandering and napping around the lions. We ID'd all the hyenas and headed back to camp, where we contacted the Mara Conservancy to let them know what we had found.

One brave hyena managed to snag a bite
Photo by Eli Strauss

This lioness was determined to keep the hyenas away

When elephants die of natural causes, rangers collect the ivory tusks to prevent poachers from finding  and selling them. After showing some rangers to the site of the carcass, we returned to camp to eat and get some work done. I got a call this afternoon letting me know that rangers were heading back out to the carcass to remove the tusks. We all piled into our cruiser and drove out to the carcass one more time.

How many people does it take to detusk an elephant?

Elephant tusks are modified incisor teeth, so they are embedded in a socket in the skull. In order to get them out, the ranger had to chop open the socket and pull and wiggle the tusk until it popped out.

Alfred, a Mara Conservancy ranger, pulling out a tusk

Video by Eli Strauss

The head after one tusk had been removed

Alfred, showing off his tusks

The tusks have been weighed and recorded and turned over to the Kenyan Wildlife Services, and the elephant carcass will hopefully provide us with a couple of days of hyena feeding fun!

A Day in Talek Camp

Research conducted in the field is often more chaotic then research controlled within a laboratory. With the uncertainty and variety within the field it is reassuring to have a routine.  Though there is great fluctuation in our routine, many activities are a daily staple in Talek Camp.  Below is a schedule of how are days usually go in Talek camp:

We are up before the sun for morning observations and leave camp around 5:30 AM.

Benson, Tracy and Wilson observing a carcass session during morning observation.

Occasionally we dart hyenas during morning observations.  Benson is contemplating whether or not to dart WLOW.

Ashlei and Benson collecting blood samples from MEKO.

If we dart a hyena, we prepare blood samples to be sent back to MSU.

Sometimes instead of blood, we collect poop samples.

We often run to T-Town aka Talek Town to run errands for camp.  Chase is buying some groceries from Bel-Mara.

Around 10:00 to 10:30 AM is finally breakfast time.  Joseph, Samwell, and Chief always make a delicious meal.

After breakfast we usually do various camp related task or occasionally we enjoy some free time to relax until evening observation.

Chase and Benson are reorganizing the identification books.

Sometimes we do our own laundry.

Volleyball is my means of exercise and recreation in Talek camp.

But usually transcriptions.

And Transcriptions...

MORE TRANSCRIPTIONS!

Evening observations begins at 5:00 PM. 

Evening observations last until after the sun goes down, and we usually return to camp a little after 8:00 PM.

Evening obs is followed up by another delicious meal from the guys, and when dinner is finished we all head straight to bed.  This is how everyday usually goes in Talek camp, but working in the field we are always prepared for the occasional change to the routine.  As far as what Serena camp does each day, it is even a mystery to us a Talek camp...  Our fellow Serena RA, Heidi, plans to take us all on a ride along for a day in Serena camp in a future blog.  Have a great and safe Friday the 13th (knocking on some wood), and don't walk under any ladders.

The Mystery of Chubs

If you’ve been following the blogs recently, you’ll have learned from Matt how we use spots to ID the copious amounts of hyenas that we keep track of. You also learned about some of our other methods from Ashlei when the spots just aren’t good enough to make an ID (collars, scars, ear damage etc…) But, as you might expect, new-born cubs don’t pop out of the womb with a name, distinguishing features and a great picture that we can use to identify them!

Cubs are born at a natal den, where we usually aren’t able to observe them because they spend their time in the den until they're old enough to move to a communal den with the rest of the cubs. They are born all black, so telling one new born cub apart from another without any context can sometimes be impossible. 

Boomerang's cubs "Walk the Plank" and "Why is the
Rum Gone" at 3 weeks old

Once they’re two-three weeks old, their mother will bring them to the communal den where they’ll remain until they graduate from den life 10 months to a year later. At two to three weeks, the little black cubs still look pretty similar. They start to develop white rings around their eyes, and white eyebrows, but unless they happened to get a scar from playing a little bit too rough with their littermate, they’re still often referred to as “little black cub,” for lack of distinguishing features.

Hawk's cub "Sports Illustrated" developing white
eyebrows

At this point, as far as identification goes, we have two goals. Our first objective is to find features to distinguish one cub from another. When we do this, we’re able to give them a cub name, which can be just about anything, and helps us to keep track of the young cubs if there are several of them.

Our second objective, although they don’t always happen in this order, is to figure out who the mother is. With a known mother, we can give the cub a permanent name pertaining to their lineage. A lineage, as Heidi discussed in one of her older blogs, is a theme given to a mother when she has her first litter. All of her cubs will be given a name pertaining to this theme, which makes it easy for us to keep track of who’s related to whom.

Eremet's cub Puff, formerly C-dot, before Erem
was known as the mother

Typically, finding distinguishing features on a cub and figuring out who its mother is happen relatively early on and close together. Even without any scarring, cubs will start developing shoulder spots at a few months old, which will help tremendously in telling them apart. As for figuring out who the mother is, the cubs have to nurse from her at some point! Every once in a while, though, we have a case where this doesn’t work out so smoothly. Meet Chubs, one of our cubs in the Serena North Clan: 

Chubs

Chubs is almost 4 and a half months old. He has beautiful spots, a nice orange mohawk, and we have no trouble distinguishing from other cubs. As his name would suggest, he also happens to be quite plump and healthy, and shows no signs that he’s malnourished. Somehow, we’ve still yet to figure out who the mother is. She must be around, because somebody is clearly nursing him, but she never seems to come around the den while we’re there (which is for a considerable amount of time every day). At least he has a cute cub name; to remain Chubs for the rest of his life wouldn’t be so bad!

Children, don't try this at home

About every 6 weeks, some of us have to go to Nairobi to bring us back precious resources that we can’t find in the Mara (e.g. LN2 for our samples) and vital for researchers (e.g. cheese, Nutella, green apples, etc.).

A couple months ago, it was Ashlei’s and Chase’s turn to go. So, I was the only mzungu* left in camp. Also, Joseph (Kenya’s best cook) had left to visit his family. Sad, sad days…

One afternoon, I was working at my desk in my tent when I heard some fuss in camp coming from “the guys’ tents”. 

My cozy work space, even cozier when it’s not 35°C inside

Now that I have presented the setting, let me introduce the protagonists (in order of apparition):

So, I was hearing some fuss coming toward my cozy tent. A few seconds later came a poor female warthog harassed by Maasai dogs. For their behalf, they are not really fed by people around here, so they need to eat what they can find, eh. Note that the pictured dog (who was probably not part of the hunting party) has found it safer to beg at our table with her cute little face. It works.

Anyway, I found the warthog chase by my tent very cool, but was not quick enough to get a picture with my phone and they were gone by the time I got outside my tent.

Here comes the stupid postdoc. I could still hear the barking dogs not far from my tent. I kind of knew that a warthog could be a little bit angry sometimes, but I figured that the poor beast would have enough on her plate (i.e. saving herself) and would not notice me. Besides, I could also hear the guys (Chief, Benson, Wilson and Samwell) coming from the same direction, so no big deal, if they could be there, so could I (as I said, stupid). And so I went on the driveway (right by my tent) to see what was going on and if I could get a cool picture.

BUT (there is always a but), meanwhile, the guys were trying to save the warthog from the dogs in a mad chase that lead them to a resting lion in a bush by Kay’s tent (the other side of camp). Uh oh. 

The lion did not like it very much. He ran away and, as result, was getting closer to the busiest part of camp.

On the other side, I was standing in the driveway not knowing what was happening (looking stupid with my smartphone in hand). I saw Samwell running toward the kitchen, and kept running when I called him. That gave away my position to the guys who were on the other side of the driveway behind some bush.

That’s when I heard one of the guys crying “Agaaaaaathe” (my name) and saw a roaring lion running past me toward the solar tent (the center of our camp). Unfortunately I was too surprised to get a picture.

A few seconds later, Wilson emerged from the bushes, panting, kisu in hand (the big knife he’s sharpening on the picture above):

Wilson: “Are you ok? Go to your tent! There is a lion in camp.”

Me: “What’s happening? Don’t kill him!”

Wilson: “I won’t! I’m saving you!”

And so I was quarantined to my tent for half an hour, when I decided it sounded calm enough to go out (meanwhile I had texted everyone and called Ashlei and Chase in Nairobi to brag and tell them that I was standing not 10m/32ft from a roaring lion). I sought out the guys to know what had just happened.

Poor Wilson almost had a heart attack because from where he was (behind the lion, chasing) he could see me standing on the driveway and I was, for a time, on the big cat’s trajectory. He veered off at the last second, obviously. Benson told me later that a cornered lion can run someone over if he’s trying to escape, so they were a bit worried when they heard I was around.

Finally, here is the only picture of the lion I could get:

The runaway lion’s footprint, by Wilson’s tent

Long story short, everyone was fine (including Samwell) and the warthog was saved from the dogs. They only got a small taste of the warthog’s juicy butt. I became famous for a day as “the mzungu who was almost killed by a lion” (not quite, but I did not disagree with the guy’s version of the story…).

*white/European person, who knows nothing about lions.

Hyena in mourning

Here's the scene: we are at the Serena North den for an evening observation session.  The cubs are playing around the denhole, and a few moms are sacked out nursing their young.  All is calm and well.

Get Fuzzy, a new mom, arrives at the den and amicably greets the other moms.  Fuzzy is relatively low-ranking, so she submissively puts her ears back and bobs her head as she approaches the others, who sniff her without aggressing on her.  A few minutes later, we hear a small cub whooping from the far denhole, and Fuzzy goes bristle-tail (a sign of excitement) and runs over.



What happens next is a loud and raucous fight, which we can’t see very well.  Sauer and Polar (two other moms) are fiercely aggressing on Fuzzy, who is squealing loudly and defensive growling.  Fuzzy then emits a very distressed-sounding whoop bout.  The older cubs run over and join in for a second round of aggressions on Fuzzy (more squeals and growls), while the younger cubs hide in the close denhole.  Listen – it’s intense!



By the time we drive around to a spot where we can see into this far denhole, Fuzzy is protectively standing over her cub, Phalanges.  Phalanges, however, is dead.  Was he the cub who whooped, and was he subsequently killed in those severe aggressions?  Were Fuzzy’s whoops an anguished call for help, once she realized her cub was dead?  Or was Phalanges already deceased when Fuzzy arrived at the denhole, and was she protecting his body from the others?  We don't know, although Fuzzy's immediate reaction to the cub whoops makes us suspect that Phalanges was whooping, and was later killed during the aggressions.

Fuzzy carrying Phalanges

Fuzzy standing guard over Phalanges' body

For the next few hours, Fuzzy guards Phalanges’ body.  At the beginning, she spends most of her time grooming him, perhaps trying to put life back into his small figure.  Whenever another hyena approaches her, she picks up Phalanges and sticks him in the denhole, and then puts the front half of her torso in the den, effectively blocking any other individuals from accessing his body.  Even if the other hyena bites or otherwise aggresses on her, Fuzzy stays in the den, defending the body until the other hyena moves away.  She then picks up Phalanges and resumes grooming him. 

Fuzzy grooming Phalanges

Moms usually carry their cubs by the scruff of their neck.  However, when Fuzzy picks up Phalanges’ body, she often does so by the leg, the middle of the torso, or other unusual postures for cub carrying.  This leads us to speculate that she recognizes that Phalanges is dead, despite her commitment to grooming and protecting his body.

Fuzzy carrying Phalanges by the shoulder

Fuzzy carrying Phalanges by the back

Fuzzy standing over a dead Phalanges

As the night goes on, she grooms him less and instead simply lies next to him.  We eventually leave her, and sadly seek our own beds.  When we return in the morning, Fuzzy and Phalanges are both gone.

Fuzzy sacked out against Phalanges' lifeless body

Spiders vs Dragons vs Pirates... and Cock-a-doodle-doo

As some of you may recall, Sarah and I are working on a project looking at aggression between den cubs. In these experiments, we put a small amount of a yummy treat (read: some powdered milk or a raw egg) out for the cubs and watch them squabble over it. It's quite fun!

A milk trial in action.

  

My interest in this project lies in how juveniles learn their matrilineal ranks. Spotted hyena cubs almost always end up occupying the rank directly below their mothers. Despite the fact that the cubs will eventually find their places in the matrilineal rank hierarchy, it takes them some time to learn their appropriate ranks, and 'low-ranking' cubs can often enjoy a few months on top before being relegated to a subordinate lifestyle. In this project, I'm looking at how quickly different cubs learn their ranks and how the rank-learning process progresses. 

The lineup of Happy Zebra hyenas: Cock-a-doodle-doo is the
big one in the middle. Behind him are The Spiders,
The Dragons, and The Pirates.

So far, the Happy Zebra cubs have been obliging me with a dramatic den scene. The cubs currently at the den are (listed in order of highest matrilineal rank): Recluse and Daddy Long Legs (“The Spiders”), Puff and Smaug (“The Dragons”), Booty and Savvy (“The Pirates”) and Cock-a-doodle-doo.  Initially, it appeared as if the cubs all knew their ranks; The Spiders were very dominant and aggressive, and easily monopolized the milk powder. I was worried that I had already missed the rank-learning period!

Recluse and Daddy Long Legs sent all the other cubs

running during the initial milk trials.

Soon after, however, The Pirates achieved ‘alpha cub’ status at the den. One day, they were suddenly excluding everyone from the milk powder, and even The Spiders were bowing and scraping at the merest glance from Booty and Savvy. The Pirates had a nice long reign, but unfortunately for them, they are destined to be lower ranking than both The Spiders and The Dragons for most of their lives. 

Booty and Savvy showing Recluse who is boss.

In the most recent turn of events, The Spiders are once again dominant at the den, although it remains to be seen if this is the final change in ranks or if it is just another takeover on the way to alignment with the matrilineal ranks.

Back on top: Daddy Long Legs bite-shakes Booty in the

most recent rank change from the Happy Zebra den. 

(Narration by Heidi)

Personally, I am looking forward to seeing The Dragons come into their own, for thus far they have been the shyest of the cubs at the den. Soon they will have to put the strong willed and highly aggressive Pirates in their place.

The Dragons in play while Recluse looks on. The Pirates
are happily suckling away in the background.

But what about Cock-a-doodle-doo? Well, sadly, Cock-a-doodle-doo has quickly learned that he is the lowest ranking of all the den cubs, and his life already mirrors that of many other low ranking hyenas who have come before him. Here are some highlights of of the poor little guy's life at the Happy Zebra den. 

The life of Cock-a-doodle-doo and many other low-ranking 

hyenas that have come before him.