Are They Based on Hyenas?

There are four species of hyena, and each is in its own genus. They're not even their own species, they're their own family. The Lion King was based on some real hyenas from Berkeley, California. But my favorite hyenas are odd wolves - which get not that much press. And I've heard of an odd wolf, but did not know it was a kind of Hyena. Now I'm really happy to tell you about them.