Unfortunately, his hometown is also a favorite hyena haunt. His skills are attracting local and international tourists, keen to learn more about these animals. "Abbas would stand on this hill and call out to them to lure them into his house so he could feed them for the tourists,” says Lehmann. As well as Yusuf’s generous offerings, the hyenas feast on the city’s landfill. We've Got Your Streaming Picks Covered. — Reuters pic. (Photo by Rockstar Photographers) Abbas Yusuf, 23, known as Hyena Man, feeds a hyena on the outskirts of Harar, Ethiopia. At dusk, another noise calls them to feed. "Abbas would stand on this hill and call out to them to lure them into his house so he could feed them for the tourists,” says Lehmann. Abbas Yusuf, 23, known as Hyena Man, feeds a hyena on the outskirts of the walled city of Harar, Ethiopia, February 23, 2017. In fact, while Mume Salleh was used to throw scraps to the beasts – to keep them far from his livestock – his son started to get closer and now he feeds hyenas from his hands. Like clockwork every day, the animals listen out for the crank and grind of the garbage truck; a dawn siren heralding fresh offloads of filthy scraps. Though Lehmann is not a wildlife photographer, he has documented animals in the wild before and knows “the reality is you need to be close to make it visually impactful.” Rather than using a camera trap, Abbas’ relationship with the hyenas was his ‘in.’ “When I was with Abbas I could do whatever, when I was on my own it would take a significant amount of time to earn their trust,” he adds. New stuff everyday! hyenas; harar; abbas yusuf; hyena man; yusuf mume salleh; Recommended Posts. These hyenas could kill him at any time in two seconds, but they don’t. For photographer Brian Lehmann, who spent time documenting the phenomenon, it was this profound — almost transcendent — connection that interested him most. But if you think it happens only with pets and little defenceless animals, you should know it sometimes happens with wild ferocious beasts. Among the locals of Harar, Yusuf is known simply as the “hyena man”– a title he inherited from his father, Yusuf Saleh who began feeding hyenas in the 1960s to protect his livestock. Abbas Yusuf, known as Hyena Man, learnt to feed the hyenas from his father, Yusuf Mume Salleh, who fed them for 45 years before passing the job to his son 13 years ago. “But that's when you come to the realization that Abbas has this amazing relationship with them.” One of the dens that Yusuf crawled into even had hyena cubs inside. Abbas Yusuf, one of the youngest hyena men in the Ethiopian city, says that ever since his father started hand-feeding the hyenas, over 60 years ago, hyenas have never attacked anyone. "At that point, you feel hesitant, is this where he kills me?” he says. As Lehmann says: "There is no doubt they are ugly creatures. His name is Abbas and he is the youngest generation of Hyena feeders in Harar. In his native Ethiopian village, he has formed such a strong bond with the local hyenas that he can feed them by hand. Photographers can even get closer to the predators feeling safe and being able to take wonderful shots without waiting too much time. The city has a long history of living peacefully with hyenas. This is the story of the man who has been living with hyenas and feeding them almost everyday. See him and the Harar residents in action on this video, feeding the hyenas with no fear: I feel comfortable with living with animals around me, but I’ve never gone beyond cats, dogs or other farm animals. BB positive-memes There is a man in Kenya known as "The Hyena Man". Abbas Yusuf, known as Hyena Man, learnt to feed the hyenas from his father, Yusuf Mume Salleh, who fed them for 45 years before passing the job to his son 13 years ago. “They let him do what ever he wants.”, This peculiar tradition, passed on by generations, reaches beyond the natural order and shows how an animal — typically feared by man and vilified in folklore — can be misunderstood. Years later, the tradition lives on and though it has become a popular tourist attraction, this remarkable relationship between man and beast runs deep. People call him the Hyena Man. For the “Hyena Man”, this animals are a kind of dog and the relationship between this human and the wild animals is amazing. Ethiopian man is real-life 'hyena whisperer' By Still Waters, July 20, 2017 in Natural World. “My father is always thankful that I continued the good work he started and I will pass it onto my children when I grow old.” Are words not enough to you? WHOLESOME NT can we give it up for the hyena man? As human population expands, hyenas and men get closer and closer. "I learnt these skills from my father. “People all over except this one little city in Ethiopia are terrified by hyenas because they will literally chew you up and turn you into a bloody patch on the ground in a matter of minutes. It’s feeding time. A few miles away you have a girl who was bitten in the face and dragged to a river…but here the children are not afraid at all.”. Join our newsletter and get all newest submission first! Hyenas are a deadly animal but residents are not afraid. One man in Africa, Abbas Yusuf, is also known as the Hyena Man. Nepotism is accepted in this strange career as he told Reuters in a recent interview. Instead, each hyena approaches slowly and gently, taking morsels of meat from the hand of man in much the same way as a pet dog would do. He started feeding them to keep them away from livestock, but he eventually gained their trust and has even been led back to their den to meet some of the cubs. The young man draws a chunk of meat from his basket and dangles it in the air. I traveled to Harar, Ethiopia, to meet Abbas Yusuf, better known as the “Hyena Man.” Abbas has been feeding the animals for 14 years, a tradition passed down to him by his father, who gave the hyenas pieces of meat to keep them away from his livestock. In 2010, Reuterscovered a story on a hyena man in the city known as Abbas Yusuf. In his native Ethiopian village, he has formed such a strong bond with the local hyenas that he can feed them by hand. A hyena is one of the most feared animals in the world, but in this small Ethiopian village, Abbas, known as the "Hyena Man," has trained them so he can hand feed them inside his home. Abbas Yusuf, known as Hyena Man, learnt to feed the hyenas from his father, Yusuf Mume Salleh, who fed them for 45 years before passing the job to his son 13 years ago. 28-jul-2017 - A general view of atmosphere at the annual VOLT Festival in Sopron, 208 kms west of Budapest, Hungary on August 16, 2016. Over time, Saleh became familiar with the wild animals, naming them and even luring some into his home to feed. Abbas lives in the walled city of Harar in Eastern Ethiopia. That’s why there have been no hyena attacks for 200 years. Names given to them according to their behaviour. Some of them have also chosen to live together like friends or family. He learned his skills from his father, who would lure the hyenas away from the local livestock with scraps. They learned how to keep themselves far from becoming their lunch by feeding the animals with scraps – like Abbas’ father did. There is a similar story of a man who drives a water truck for a game reserve on Africa. Source: Africa Geographic. I grew up with them like family members. One man in Africa, Abbas Yusuf, is also known as the Hyena Man. Since the ‘beginning of time’, animals and men have been living sharing the same planet. One remarkable example came one night, when a hyena — who Abbas is particularly close to — led him and Lehmann back to its den. Dusk is falling on the old walled city of Harar and the still air is broken only by an occasional, chilling howl. Hyenas are depicted as opportunistic scavengers and are actually skilful hunters. “You could hear the other hyenas running around nearby and they could kill him in two seconds but they didn't,” he adds. He has names for all of them, though some are more responsive than others, and has even developed a special kind of dialect to woo them from their caves. But residents are not afraid. Centuries ago, the animals were attacking and sometimes killing the townspeople, the locals told Lehmann. Abbas Yusuf, known as Hyena Man. All rights reserved. Would you dare to ‘share you bed’ with a powerful wild hyena, lion or tiger? “Hyenas have never attacked the people of Harar after my father started feeding them, unless you harm their babies,” Abbas Yusuf told Reuters. who used to throw them scraps to lure them away from his livestock. HARAR (Ethiopia), July 18 — Hyenas roam the streets of the ancient walled city of Harar in eastern Ethiopia every night, seeking scraps of meat to drag to the nearby caves. “I was in awe of their relationship,” Lehmann tells National Geographic. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. This is the story of the man who has been living with hyenas and feeding them almost everyday. But there is beauty within.”, Follow Alexandra Genova on Twitter @alexandraaa_cg. Abbas Yusuf, known as Hyena Man, learnt to feed the hyenas from his father, Yusuf Mume Salleh, who fed them for 45 years before passing the job to his son 13 years ago. 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Although men are usually inclined to choose a safe and quite life, there are some of them who are so brave – or good – to live close to the wildlife. “Hyenas have never attacked the people of Harar after my father started feeding them, unless you harm their babies,” Abbas Yusuf … Their bat-like ears flick back and forth in greedy expectation while their jaws flex to reveal a snarl of teeth. But while spotted hyenas are known throughout the world to be vicious scavengers, in this small Ethiopian city, its habitants are not afraid. He worked with hyenas for 40 years. Abbas Yusuf is believed to be one of only two Hyena Men in the world. With powerful jaws and a digestive tract that allow them to process and obtain nutrients from both skin and bones, hyenas consume animals of various sizes, carrion, bones and more. Instead of leaping to attack, one hyena comes forward and takes it right out of his hands, with the poise of a domesticated dog. In addition, they are very territorial, organized into territorial clans of related individuals. Looking for some great streaming picks? Known as the "hyena man", Abbas is comfortable around the scavengers. By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies as described in Cookie Policy. Abbas Yusuf, known as Hyena Man, learnt to feed the hyenas from his father, Yusuf Mume Salleh, who fed them for 45 years before passing the job to his son 13 years ago. 1. But despite that and the previous attack incidents, in the small Ethiopian village of Harar people and children are not afraid of them…not any more. Their solution was to cut holes in the city’s walls and start throwing scraps of food through, “so they would start eating the food rather than the people”. Not Abbas Yusuf, however. Hyenas roam the streets of the ancient walled city of Harar in eastern Ethiopia every night, seeking scraps of meat to drag to the nearby caves. He knows his ‘pets’ so well that he calls them by name. A family chosen by the town to feed the animals is not daunted by the task despite the dangers that are associated with coming into close quarters with such wild animals. reuters. Abbas Yusuf, Self: Rogue Trip. Cookies help us deliver our services. One of theme is Abbas Yusuf, known as the “Hyena Man” from Harar, a small village in Ethiopia. Now, it’s become one of the city’s top attractions. One of theme is Abbas Yusuf, known as the “Hyena Man” from Harar, a small village in Ethiopia. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2017/08/this-man-lives-with-hyenas.html. According to the Harari, there have been no hyena attacks for 200 years. Among the locals of Harar, Yusuf is known simply as the “hyena man”– a title he inherited from his father, Yusuf Saleh who began feeding hyenas in the 1960s to protect his livestock. Abbas Yusuf, known as the Hyena Man, learned to feed these wild animals from his father, Yusuf Mume Salleh, who used to throw them scraps to lure them away from his livestock. Abbas Yusuf, 23, known as Hyena Man, feeds a hyena on the outskirts of the walled city of Harar, Ethiopia. Abbas Yusuf, known as the Hyena Man, learned to feed these wild animals from his father, Yusuf Mume Salleh, who used to throw them scraps to lure them away from his livestock. Every night, Abbas would stand on a hill and call out to them; coaxing them to come and perform for the tourists. The Touching Story of an Orangutan Taking Care of 3 Tiger... 12 Astonishing Examples of Artworks Made of Metal. Hyenas feed out of a dumpster at the Magala Gudo meat market in Harar. Abbas Yusuf, known as Hyena Man, learnt to feed the hyenas from his father, Yusuf Mume Salleh, who fed them for 45 years before passing the job to his son 13 years ago. Over time, Saleh became familiar with the wild animals, naming them and even luring some into his home to feed. Abbas Yusuf, known as Hyena Man, learnt to feed the hyenas from his father, Yusuf Mume Salleh, who fed them for 45 years before passing the job to his son 13 years ago. Source: Pinterest. Abbas learned that from his father Yusuf Mume Salleh, but decided to go beyond his dad limits. In the semi-darkness, five hungry hyenas circle a young man crouched on the ground. Abbas even has a baby hyena in his bedroom, and he’s not worried of being bitten at all. Abbas learned that from his father Yusuf Mume Salleh, but decided to go beyond his dad limits. You have entered an incorrect email address! Abbas Yusuf, known as Hyena Man, learnt to feed the hyenas from his father, Yusuf Mume Salleh, who fed them for 45 years before passing the job to his son 13 years ago. Top 10+ Best And Cheap Fitness Products To Easily Keep Healthy... 7 Weirdest Mysterious Events Caught on Camera 2017. Abbas Yusuf known as 'Hyena Man', feeds hyena from his mouth dgtl সংবাদ সংস্থা ২৫, জুলাই, ২০১৭, ০১:৩৬ I'm not scared of any of them," said Abbas Yusuf. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- A demonstration that “when you can’t defeat your enemy, you can always try to become his friend”. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. “Hyenas have never attacked the people of Harar after my father started feeding them, unless you harm their babies,” Abbas Yusuf told Reuters. He learned his skills from his father, who would lure the hyenas away from the local livestock with scraps. Its a hauntingly beautiful Unesco-recognized site filled with ancient mosques and colorful mazes of alleyways.