[Columbia, SC] - Two male spotted hyenas have joined the Riverbanks animal collection and will be on display at the Zoo for several months. The hyenas belong to the Milwaukee Zoo and will enjoy the mild South Carolina winter while their new habitat is being constructed in Milwaukee.

The outward appearance of a hyena is most easily described as being similar to a dog, but the behavioral characteristics are much different than that of a domesticated canine. They can very easily sustain a solitary lifestyle - gathering food, scavenging and hunting small animals. However, they prefer to live in maternal groups, or clans. Males typically will move from clan to clan throughout the course of their life, but females generally remain with the clan they are born into.

Of the four species of hyena found in East Africa, spotted hyenas are the most common and the largest, weighing anywhere from 100 - 180 pounds and reaching a body length of almost five feet. Hyenas have highly developed senses of smell and hearing, as well as superb night vision. Spotted hyenas get their name from the large spots that cover their head, body and limbs.

While these are the first spotted hyenas to be put on exhibit at Riverbanks, they are not the first hyenas in the Zoo's history. In fact, the first two animals ever added to the Riverbanks collection were a pair of brown hyenas that resided at the Zoo from opening day in April, 1974 until they were sent to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., in 1980.

"This is an opportunity for Riverbanks' guests to see and learn about a species that has not been displayed in our Zoo for a long time," said Ed Diebold, director of animal collections at Riverbanks. "Hyenas are fascinating animals that are surrounded by a number of myths, so it's great to have the opportunity to educate our guests on how to separate the myth from reality."

Hyenas are commonly known as lazy scavengers that steal their food from noble hunters and always seem to be laughing while doing it. For years, it was commonly believed that hyenas gained most of their food in this manner. More recently, however, sophisticated night vision filming has proved that it is far more common for a clan of hyenas to make a kill, only to have lions pirate the meal from them.

The hyenas will be exhibited in what is currently the spectacled bear exhibit later this week. The Zoo's spectacled bear will remain off exhibit during the daytime hours until the hyenas return to Milwaukee.