Razi and Mosi live next to the lion habitat in the zoo’s African Savanna.
SEATTLE — Be prepared — the Woodland Park Zoo just added one more cast member of the Lion King.
The Seattle zoo welcomed two spotted hyenas, 3-year-old Razi and 1-year-old Mosi, for the first time in 25 years.
Both canines came from the Metro Richmond Zoo in Moseley, Virginia, and are getting acquainted with their outdoor habitat next to the lions in the zoo’s African Savanna area.
“Our new hyenas are young and pretty shy. As they explore the outdoor habitat, we’re continuing to give them access to the off-view indoor dens should they choose to retreat, so viewing opportunities may be limited initially,” said Martin Ramirez, curator of mammalogy at Woodland Park Zoo.
Swipe to see more of spotted hyenas Razi and Mosi!
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Spotted hyenas are a wide-ranging apex predator of sub-Saharan Africa that serve a critical ecological function, but they are often misunderstood, Ramirez said. They are often characterized by their tendency to scavenge and eerie “laugh,” but they are highly intelligent and have one of the most complex social systems in the animal kingdom.
Unlike wolves or coyotes, which live in packs of 5-15 anchored by a breeding pair, hyenas live in matriarchal clans of up to 130 individuals. They usually hunt cooperatively in small groups or solo, but they all defend the clans’ den from lions and other hyena clans.
When hunting, hyenas can chase down prey at about 37 miles an hour for long distances. However, they often also scavenge the remains of other animals, using their powerful jaws to crunch down on everything that’s left of a carcass, including bones and hooves.
“Hyenas often get a bad rap in movies and books — vilified because they are scavengers. However, contrary to this misconception, hyenas are highly intelligent and intriguing animals. Despite their reputation as scavengers, hyenas play an important role as one of Africa’s top predators and scavenging clean-up crews,” said Ramirez. “Razi and Mosi will provide our visitors a rare window into their intricate world.”
Woodland Park Zoo officials hope that the hyenas will provide a diverse picture of the ecology of the African savanna, enriching visitors’ experience of the region and recontextualizing canine predators in the Pacific Northwest.
“Animals and people are critically interconnected and all animals play a key role in their respective ecosystems. Caring for a variety of animal species at the zoo enhances our ability to highlight their natural history, spotlight how they help their ecosystems, provide a snapshot of biodiversity and help visitors foster empathy for all wildlife,” said Dr. Luis Neves, interim chief zoological officer and senior director of animal care at Woodland Park Zoo.
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