The Hyena Men of Harar: A Remarkable Bond Between Human and Beast

In the ancient walled city of Harar, Ethiopia, a nightly spectacle unfolds that both thrills and unnerves visitors. As dusk settles over the city’s eastern outskirts, a young man crouches on the ground, surrounded by circling spotted hyenas. But far from being a scene of danger, this is a display of a unique and long-standing relationship between the people of Harar and these often-misunderstood predators.

Meet Abbas Yusuf, the 25-year-old known locally as the “Hyena Man.” Following in the footsteps of his father, Yusuf Mume Salleh, Abbas has taken on the extraordinary role of feeding and interacting with wild hyenas. This tradition, while now a popular tourist attraction, has deep roots in Harar’s history and culture.

Harar’s relationship with hyenas dates back at least 500 years, according to written records, with the animals sanitizing the city by feeding mainly on its organic refuse. The city’s strategy for peaceful coexistence with hyenas is both simple and ingenious. By ensuring the animals don’t go hungry, Hararis have effectively deterred attacks on humans and livestock. In the past, holes were built into the city’s ancient walls to feed meat to the hyenas. Today, the animals also have access to scraps from the city’s landfill.

This approach has been remarkably successful. While hyena attacks on humans are reported in neighboring villages, Harar has allegedly been free from such incidents for over 200 years.

Every evening, Yusuf takes his place on the outskirts of Harar, ready to perform the feeding ritual for gathered tourists. For a fee of around £4 per person, spectators can witness this incredible interaction up close.

What’s truly astounding is the behavior of the hyenas. Instead of the frenzied, aggressive animals often portrayed in popular culture, these hyenas wait patiently for their turn. They gently take meat from Yusuf’s hand or from a stick he holds out. Some even playfully clamber over him, reminiscent of domesticated dogs.

Yusuf has developed a special bond with these animals. He’s created a unique “hyena dialect” – a mixture of English and Oromo – to communicate with them. Each hyena has a name, and they respond when called. This level of trust is so profound that on at least one occasion, the hyenas have led Abbas back to their den, allowing him to see their cubs – a remarkable display of acceptance from typically protective wild animals.

The tradition of feeding hyenas has become intertwined with local Islamic practices. On the tenth day of the first month of the Islamic calendar, coinciding with the festival of Al Ashura, locals feed bowls of porridge to hyenas at special shrines. If the hyenas eat the porridge, it’s considered a sign of good fortune for the coming year.

This ritual is steeped in local folklore. One version of the origin story tells of a pure-hearted man who dreamed of feeding porridge to the hyenas during a 19th-century famine when the starving animals began attacking humans and livestock. Another credits the revelation to Muslim saints convening on a mountaintop.

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Despite its cultural significance and tourist appeal, the practice of hyena feeding in Harar faces challenges. As of 2002, there were only two practicing hyena men left in the city, indicating a decline in this unique tradition.

There are also valid concerns about the impact of such close human-wildlife interaction. While the peaceful coexistence in Harar is admirable, it’s important to remember that hyenas are wild animals and potentially dangerous predators. The success of this practice in Harar doesn’t necessarily mean it could or should be replicated elsewhere.

Sources: 1, 2, 3