A place where lions and other dangerous wild animals roam the streets is that classic outsider's perception of Africa that locals like to laugh about ... but it proved a little more accurate than usual in a quiet South African suburb this morning. Commuters, joggers and dog-walkers got a big surprise when they spotted a brown hyena trotting around their neighbourhood!
Image tweeted by John Robbie @702JohnRobbie
As news of the furry interloper roaming the streets of Johannesburg spread, South Africans took to social media. Snapshots from eyewitnesses and tweets (some very amusing) with a 'hyena' hashtag were soon coming thick and fast.?
Conservation experts were quick to reassure the public that brown hyenas are not aggressive and this particular neighbourhood 'visitor' posed no danger to humans.
By late morning, teams from a local wildlife rehabilitation centre and the Johannesburg Zoo had managed to track the hyena down and dart it. Only about six months old, it was suffering from exhaustion, dehydration and some serious injuries to its paws. After being treated, the youngster was transported to the zoo, where it will be kept until authorities can decide whether it's possible to release it back into the wild.?It's still unclear how the brown hyena found itself in the suburbs ? even in the wild, these dog-like mammals are rarely spotted due to their elusive nature and nocturnal habits.?
Image credit: Twitter user Adriaan Roets @RoetsAA
Image credit: Eyewitness News @ewnupdates
Image credit: Eyewitness News @ewnupdates
For now, South Africa's streets are wildlife-free once again and the wayward hyena is sleeping off its ordeal ? here's one seriously cute snoozing snap via the Joburg Zoo.
Image credit: JoburgParksZoo @JoburgParksZoo
You can also watch the whole story unfold in this news report from Eyewitness News:
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