Zoo spends four years trying to mate male hyenas
A Japanese zoo spent four years trying to mate two spotted hyenas - before realising they were both male.
Maruyama Zoo, in Sapporo, said they were told Kami and Kamutori were a "male and female couple" by the South Korean zoo that sold them the spotted hyenas in 2010.
According to AFP, the zoo released a statement saying: "We have attempted to house them together for breeding many times but they often fought against each other and never engaged themselves in breeding behaviour.
"We have determined that the two animals are both male after conducting ultrasound imaging and hormone tests on them under anaesthesia."
According to the Guardian, the zoo explained that is very difficult to determine the sex of a spotted hyena from the appearance of its external genitalia.
The animals underwent 'sex tests' after Kami, the supposedly female hyena, showed no estrus symptoms after reaching sexual maturity.
ITV News reports that the zoo is now looking for a female to breed with either Kami or Kamutori.
Discover amazing wildlife pictures in the gallery below:
Related articles
It really is a laughing hyena! Animal gets giggles on South Africa safari
Gay penguin couple 'adopt' newborn baby chick
'Loving' gay penguins to be separated at Toronto Zoo
