[Lee Jong-gil's Autumn Return] The King of Animals Is the Lion, but the Top Economic Scholar Is the Hyena

Dr. Kangwon Lee, PhD in Animal Management, 'Animal Humanities'

Movie still cut from 'The Lion King'

In the animated film The Lion King (1994), hyenas appear as insignificant characters. When Scar, the lion who covets the throne, throws meat, they scramble to swallow it greedily. Although they have sharp teeth, their fighting skills are poor. When Scar leaps from the air, three hyenas fall down. Scar sings with a disdainful expression.

"You fools, slow and dull like wild boars / This time, pay attention, it's very important / Such a stupid look, clearly you don't understand / I'm talking about succession to the throne, have you finally realized?" The hyenas all pledge their loyalty. "It would be great if a close friend became king."

Since ancient times, hyenas have been perceived as inferior animals compared to lions. Even the names for their groups differ. Lions’ group is called a "Pride," which signifies pride and exudes elegance. Hyenas’ group is called a "Clan," emphasizing a realistic aspect, meaning a kinship community descended from the same ancestor.

Few consider hyenas as rivals to lions. To be the king of animals, one must have a large body, outstanding appearance, and a magnificent voice, but hyenas do not meet these criteria. Unlike other animals, female hyenas are larger than males and take on the leadership role. An adult female weighs about 60 kg, which is one-third the weight of a male lion and about half that of a female lion. They make whining sounds while wagging their bushy tails.

However, hyenas are intelligent. They acknowledge their physical disadvantages and find other solutions. They attack lions that are isolated or alone in groups. Although this seems like a simple tactic, they never attack recklessly. Even when outnumbering, they do not immediately intimidate but attack according to a set procedure. To minimize casualties, they focus on the weakest parts of the opponent’s body, such as the hind legs, which have few defensive means. They avoid the face with sharp teeth and strong jaws or the powerful front paws, instead targeting the vulnerabilities.

Animal Humanities is a humanities and liberal arts book that explores how animals have contributed to human civilization. The author, Dr. Kangwon Lee, a specialist in animal management, describes hyenas as "rational consumers in consumer choice theory." This is because their efforts to minimize group casualties when attacking lions resemble consumers trying to maximize satisfaction with limited income.

"Hyenas probably did not study economics. But they are more rational than any consumer. To reduce casualties, they identify the weakest part of the lion’s body in combat and concentrate their available firepower there. (...) Avoiding the opponent’s strengths and exploiting weaknesses aligns with the strategies of military tacticians."

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769?1821) employed similar tactics. The Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 is a representative example. He perceived the weakness in the center of the Austrian and Russian allied forces and launched a bold attack. The French surprise assault shook the allied center and reversed the tide of battle.

Before attacking the lion’s hindquarters, hyenas also use deceptive tactics to disrupt the lion’s nerves. They raise dust and run frantically around the lion’s front and back. Repeated actions like this inevitably distract the lion’s gaze and attention. During World War II, the Allied forces used a similar tactic in the 1944 Normandy landings to divert German attention. Before landing in Normandy, they first attacked Cherbourg, a port city in northwestern France. The Germans were deceived and changed their troop deployments, minimizing damage. The outcome of the battle is well known.

"Lions fall into a panic, unable to predict where the hyenas will attack. At that moment, the hyenas launch their assault. The lion’s hindquarters are torn, and the ground is soaked with the lion’s blood. Hyenas have very strong bite force. If such attacks continue, even lions cannot avoid serious injuries. And injuries sustained in the wild like this are a fast track to death."