Striped Hyena Crossing Volcanic Sand at Dusk

Cool blue light washes over a rugged game trail near Thimphu as a striped hyena moves across dark volcanic sand. The animal's coarse fur displays distinct vertical stripes that break up its silhouette against the shifting terrain. Thick mist clings low to the ground, softening the edges of the path and obscuring the horizon. In the distance, a flock of birds scatters into the twilight sky, their dark shapes against the pale haze. The sand texture appears rough and granular under the animal's paws, while the mist adds a layer of depth that separates the foreground subject from the fading background. The hyena's head turns slightly, ears perked, capturing a moment of alert movement. One shadow stretches long across the loose gravel at the animal's rear.