Brown Hyena
While not extinct YET and only found in specific regions of South Africa, the brown hyena is the rarest species of hyena and its status is marked as threatened. They are scavengers and, contrary to popular belief, are actually poor hunters. However, this doesn’t stop the famers in their habitat from making a huge dent in their population by killing them.
Poisoning, trapping, and outright hunting severely reduce their number. There is a mistaken belief that the brown hyena kill livestock and they shoulder the full blame when found scavenging a carcass. They pay for this uneducated assumption with their lives. Protected areas and educational campaigns are the key to the brown hyena’s future on the planet. Without scavengers, the delicate balance of the ecosystem will crumble.
Details
Other Names: Brown hyenas are also known as strandwolves–translated as beach dogs in English–because of their affinity for scavenging along the shore.
Families: Brown hyenas have a social hierarchy comparable to that of wolves, with a mated pair and their offspring. They live in female-dominated clans composed of extended families of four to six individuals.
Interesting Fact: Unlike spotted hyenas, brown hyenas are born with their eyes closed and open them after eight days.
[these maps are approximate]
