Feeding the hyenas became a regular practice after a famine in the 19th century. The hyenas were killing the livestock that people were depending on for survival. The locals decided to feed the hyenas buttered porridge in hopes that it would stop them from killing their cattle. It worked so ever since then a man designated as the Hyena Man, which has continued down to his descendants, feeds the hyenas each night. We drove outside the city where he awaited with his basket of camel meat from the local butchers. It was pitch dark except for the lights from our van. We could see the glowing eyes of the hyenas in the distance! Hyena Man held a stick about 6 inches long. He placed a chunk of meat on the end of the stick and held it out. Out of the darkness appears a HUGE hyena and snapped that piece of meat right off the stick! We have never seen such huge hyenas! He even put the stick in his mouth and the hyena snatched it. There had to be about a dozen hyenas waiting their turn in the darkness. Hyena Man threw a few pieces back onto the ground. Our guide asked if anyone wanted to feed them and, of course, Kathy said, "I will!" So she went forward and squatted down next to Hyena Man and fed the hyenas three times. She said it was quite astonishing to see that big ole hyena coming straight at her and snatching that meat! The locals have actually made a couple of holes in the walls of the city so that the hyenas can come in at night and "clean up the city." Can you imagine wandering those alleyways at night and running into a wild hyena?!