Prey do have a fascinatingly passive response to the approach of hyenas.
above: hyena allowed to casually walk up to resting wildebeest; attacks b4 it can get away.
It’s not uncommon to see even a group of hyenas casually penetrate a herd of topi or wildebeest; getting within feet of them, while walking in plain view.
Why do prey permit this?
Hyenas are tricksters. They use their body language to intentionally manipulate their prey into believing they aren’t hunting. Prey associate dangerous predators with concealment, stalking, etc. So when hyena casually stroll into the herd, they are perceived as harmless, or in travelling mode, distracted by something else, etc.
They act interested in something else until the last second when they strike and grab their prey. Often times, the prey is laying down, resting. When this happens, it isn’t long before the rest of the hyena clan runs in, who had also managed to stroll into the herd without alarms going off.
Hyenas are not to be underestimated!