# Do Striped Hyenas Have a Sweet Tooth? First Evidence of Honey Consumption by a Hyaenid

## TL;DR

Scientists observed a striped hyena eating honey for the first time, showing these animals have a more varied diet than previously thought.

## Contribution

This study provides the first documented evidence of honey consumption by a hyaenid species.

## Key findings

- A striped hyena was photographed carrying a honeycomb, suggesting it consumed honey, beeswax, and bee larvae.
- The finding highlights the dietary plasticity of striped hyenas and the limitations of traditional diet analysis methods.
- Camera trapping proved valuable in capturing rare or unexpected feeding behaviors.

## Abstract

Dietary flexibility in carnivores remains an underexplored aspect of their ecology, particularly the consumption of non‐meat foods. While striped hyenas (
Hyaena hyaena
) are primarily scavengers, they are known to occasionally consume plant material, insects and other alternative food sources. Here, we present the first documented evidence of honey consumption by a hyaenid species. During a community‐led camera trap survey in October 2024 at the Kwenia Vulture Sanctuary, Kenya, an adult striped hyena was photographed carrying a large honeycomb in its mouth. This observation suggests ingestion of honey, beeswax and bee larvae, providing nutritional, medicinal or hydration benefits. Our finding expands current knowledge of hyena dietary plasticity and highlights the limitations of conventional diet analysis methods in detecting rare food items such as honey. It underscores the value of complementary observational tools, such as camera, trapping in capturing elusive or unexpected dietary behaviours.

Dietary flexibility in carnivores is often overlooked, particularly regarding the consumption of non‐meat food items. We report the first documented case of honey consumption by a hyaenid: A striped hyena (
Hyaena hyaena
) was photographed carrying a large honeycomb during a community‐led camera trap survey in Kenya. This observation highlights the species' dietary plasticity and underscores the value of camera trapping for detecting rare or unexpected feeding behaviours.