hyenas in the media

Hyenas have never gotten a fair shake in popular media. They are generally portrayed as cowardly and villainous, despite their actual natures. Portrayals of hyenas in this manner can be seen in The Lion King and Jungle Taitei.

Documentaries

The following are some documentaries that are about or feature hyenas. There aren't a lot of them, because hyenas are often overlooked as subjects for documentaries because people don't like hyenas. (I'm sure the hyena doesn't like them either.)

I know the National Geographic ones and Tales of the Serengeti are good - I can't vouch for the others.

National Geographic Video
- Africa's Animal Oasis
- Eternal Enemies: Lions and Hyenas
- Wings Over the Serengeti: Africa's Surprising Scavengers

ABC Video
- Tales of the Serengeti (4 video set)

Families in the Wild
- Hyenas

Kratt's Creatures
- Hyenas and Cool Cats

Books

This is a list of informational and folklore books about or featuring hyenas.

Childrens' Books
Hyenas by Kevin J. Holmes (ages 4-8)
Hyenas by Sally Morgan (ages 9-12)
The Mean Hyena: A Folktale from Malawi by Judy Sierra (ages 4-8)

Adult Books
African Folktales by Roger Abrahams
Half Human, Half Animal: Tales of Werewolves and Related Creatures by Jamie Hall
Hyena and the Moon: Stories to Tell from Kenya by Heather McNeil
Innocent Killers by Baron Hugo van Lawick
Kalahari Hyenas: Comparative Behavioral Ecology of Two Species by M.G.L. Mills
Notes from the Hyena's Belly: An Ethiopean Boyhood by Nega Mezlekia