Would You Feed A Hyena From Your Mouth?

by Jeff DonlanHyenas may have a bad reputation in the animal kingdom, but they are part of the community in Harar, Ethiopia.Hyenas are known to roam the streets of the ancient walled city to find scraps to bring back to their nearby caves, and one family is tasked with feeding the animals, braving hyena bites that are 10 times as strong as a human’s.Abbas Yusuf learned to feed the hyenas from his father, Yusuf Mume Salleh, who fed them for 45 years. The family’s work is now an attraction, drawing in local and international tourists who normally come to see the city’s ancient mosques and stone walls.Nicknamed the “Hyena Man,” Yusuf feeds the hyenas directly from his mouth to prove to visitors that the animals can be trusted.“I grew up and live with them just like family members,” he said. “I don’t have any fear of them.”Since the 16th century, hyenas have had a special role in honoring the birth of the Prophet Mohammad. Harar residents have a tradition of feeding the hyenas porridge mixed with butter and goat meat on the Hakim Mountain just outside the city, believed to be a holy site where ancient Muslim leaders are buried. If the hyenas refuse the meal, it’s considered bad luck.Yusuf hopes the city doesn’t expand beyond where it is now, saying it would be a catastrophe for hyenas to have their habit destroyed.
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