Photo by beverlyjoubert / We tend to associate them with those distinctive, echoing cackles that accompany the rough-and-tumble business of feeding, competition, and survival. But a hyena’s vocal repertoire is as complex and varied as its intricate social life. In close quarters, when interactions shift from intense to intimate, the raucous laugh gives way to softer sounds. Researchers have found that in the presence of young cubs, hyena vocalizations turn gentle and reassuring, an almost musical secret language of high-pitched growls and tonal rumbles. It’s yet another side to these intelligent, often misunderstood animals that we have yet to fully understand and appreciate. #hyenas #hyenacub #spottedhyena #Okavango #wildlife