Keepers say the cub's fur will soon change from black to a spotted brown

Oct 31, 2013 21:41 GMT  ·  By

A baby hyena living in captivity at Berlin Zoo will soon find it difficult to recognize itself in a mirror. This is because the color of its fur is about to change from black to a spotted brown.

Zoo Borns tells us that the cub was born at this facility on July 27, to mother Malindi. It is a male, and it has been named Toki.

During its first few months of life, it looked little like its parents and more like a black cat a witch would just love to keep as a pet. However, it is only a matter of weeks until it honors its species and earns the right to be called a spotted hyena.

The baby hyena is looked after by its mother, and does not get to spend very much time with its dad.

Keepers explain this is not because the baby hyena's father, Kara, is one really lousy dad, but because in hyena packs, females are the dominant ones and prefer taking care of business such as raising a new generation on their own.