The Piena is a terrible glutton and far too hyperactive and excitable for his own good. His table manners are truly atrocious and he’s not very good at sharing.

‘Luckily’, no one wants to share his meals as he’s rather noisy and makes such a spectacular mess.

His mummy still loves him though.

(Most of the other animals blame her for his failings as she’s brought him and his siblings up single-handedly since his father ran off with another cackle of hyenas when he was a cub. They blamed her for that too as they said she’d let herself go, so what did she expect?).

Got an expat in your life or simply yearning for the sights, sounds and wildlife of the bushveld? Our Lesser Spotted African Wildlife mugs are guaranteed to teach you lots of stuff you didn’t know about Africa and its lesser spotted and not quite as well-known, though even more fascinating inhabitants.

About our LESSER SPOTTED AFRICAN WILDLIFE PIENA latte mugs:

This is what you get with each mug, you lucky person, you!:

• ○ A unique 11oz (330ml) or 15oz (440ml) Lesser Spotted African Wildlife double-sided mug with a portrait on the front and life story on the back
• ○ Premium grade ceramics with scratch-resistant finish
• ○ Lead and BPA-free
• ○ Dishwasher- and handwash-friendly
• ○ Microwave-safe
• ○ Individually hand-made in Cape Town
• ○ The perfect gift for coffee, tea and hot chocolate lovers: friends, family members or loved ones – or for you!
• *Please don’t scrub hard with bleach and a scourer, even if you’re a die-hard germaphobe (true story) – treat your Piena mug gently and it’ll give you years of pleasure and amusement.
  

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  ALL ABOUT the piena’s extended family – HYENAs:

  There are three hyena species in South Africa. Our friend, the Piena, is a Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Most of his friends (not that he has many left) and family are found in the Kruger National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park while some others can be found in national parks and game reserves.

  KEY TRAITS:

  Successful hunters and scavengers: Hyenas are nocturnal creatures and, while mostly known as the scavengers of the bushveld, hyenas are also extremely successful hunters and can run at as much as 60km/hr for several kilometres.

  Best known for: Their insane-sounding cackle/giggle and scavenging.

  Body: Sloping features and ungainly walk.

  Strength: They have the strongest jaws of any mammal and are able to crush large bones.

  Social Structure: They live in clans with a matriarchal structure, with the females dominant over the males.

  Ecological Role: They are vital for removing carcasses, helping to prevent the spread of diseases.

  Their Diet: They are carnivorous and prey on other animals and their young, as well as eating carrion. They can endure several days without water and in one feeding frenzy, can eat as much as 1/3 of their body weight. 

  Breeding: Females gestate for between three and four months and usually have two cubs in each litter, each of which weighs 3lb/1.4kg at birth. Cubs are weaned at 12-16 months as their mother’s milk is extremely nourishing and are raised in communal dens. They’re also born with their eyes open and fully erupted teeth.

  Spoor Description: Four toes on each foot with short, heavy claws.

  

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  Collect the full set of 12 Lesser Spotted African Wildlife mugs and give your family and friends an inspirational topic for filling awkward silences.