Hyenas in Berkeley?

The first time I heard the hyenas' call was years ago, on a damp and misty winter's afternoon on the Fire Trail above the Berkeley campus. I almost sat down in the middle of the path.

Who (what?) in the world could be making that sound? And a very unearthly sound it is. So strange and unfamiliar for this part of the planet that even the dogs being walked there don't prick up their ears. And now this most unusual feature of a weekend hike is unlikely to be heard much longer.

Budget cuts. Yup, after nearly 30 years of useful scientific study, researchers of the largest captive colony of spotted hyenas have been unable to secure future funding. They have been trying various means to resolve the budgetary issues - from launching a fundraising campaign to moving the animals along to the local zoo - but the deadline ain't going away.

I don't know if hyenas have guardian angels, and can't really imagine what a hyena-angel might look like, but this bunch surely needs one, and soon.