Catherine Kochert, Age 11, Of Webster, N.Y... For her question;

Do hyenas really laugh?

The spotted hyena of East Africa has a loud voice, and he shatters the night with shrill screams and harsh yells, with piercing hoops and hollers. After lions have killed and eaten their meal, the shaggy hyena likes to crush and devour the bones. As he creeps up after the lions have left, he often utters a blood curdling chuckle. This sound earned him the name of laughing hyena.

Maybe the hyena is expressing his joy at finding a free meal. But the sound is not at all like a joyful human laugh. It is more like the evil cackle of a monster about to torture his helpless victim.