Kiki Wolhuter is a two-year-old girl who has a real fascination with hyenas. When he was born, his parents, Kim and Saskia, gave him a stuffed animal from one of these wild animals and since then, the little girl has not separated from him. A few days ago, Kiki lived a unique moment when he was able to meet a real group of hyenas in Zimbabwe. The images of the encounter have gone around the world.
The girl’s father is dedicated to recording wildlife documentaries and lives in the Sango Nature Reserve. He is an expert in hyenas, as he has been studying its natural habitat and behavior for years. He therefore decided that the time had come for Kiki to meet his beloved hyenas. “That same morning I had been playing and running with the hyenas, so Kiki begged me to let her run with them,” he explains to the Daily Mail.
“First I refused, because hyenas usually react quite differently when it comes to humans or small animals. Peo insisted so much on me that I decided that if I held her in my arms, nothing would happen,” Kim said. At first, younger hyenas were hesitant and didn’t listen much to her, but in the end they got used to the little girl’s presence and got closer.
Gradually, the situation relaxed and the little girl was able to approach the hyenas freely, which sniffed her curiously and ended up running and playing with her. “They’re very efficient hunters and they like to play with me,” said Kim, who also believes that films like The Lion King have done hyenas a dislike.
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