Camera: Canon EOS 6D

Lens: Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2

Aperture: f/6.3

Shutter speed: 1/100 sec

ISO: 400

Description: SPOTTED HYENAS MATING

Story from behind the lens: Knowing the hyenas are reproducing successfully is one thing, but to see actual copulation in the wild is incredibly rare. A short while ago, while driving through the bank side of river Mara some movement in the distance caught my attention, and upon closer inspection I found a hyena couple occupied in – well, attempting – an amorous engagement. The male made numerous attempts to mount the female, as she has found that the males literally need practice to be able to get it right, which can take a number of months. Female spotted hyenas have a dominance hierarchy but Because of the female's unusual genitalia, successful mating for hyenas is tricky to pull off. It's interesting to know that Intersex plumbing is found in all females of the spotted hyena in which the females have penises nearly indistinguishable from those of the males.