The Hyena Scientist

Kay Holecamp is a hyena scientist. She studies wild hyenas in the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya. She is so much nicer than her predecessor. He cut notches in the hyenas’ ears so he could identify them. She uses radio collars and a yearbook of spot patterns. Her team makes observations every day at dusk and dawn. They take blood and scat samples. They send the samples to Michigan. They have made discoveries. They have problems with floods, burglars, lions, safari hot air balloons, and tourists.

I learned a lot of new facts about hyenas. They are more closely related to cats than dogs. I’d like to be a researcher there. I learned a lot about what wildlife biologists do. I liked reading the stories about the team members. There are a lot of photographs, and I liked them all. I like the photos of animals the best.

Hyenas have a bad reputation, but they don’t deserve it. Tourists don’t want to see them. People think they are ugly. The photos in the book make the hyenas look cute and nice and playful. I hope this book will help hyenas. People will like hyenas after reading it, and those who already like them will like them more.