Brown Hyena Research Project

Brown hyenas are one of Africa’s large carnivores. They occur in the southern African sub-region: Angola, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Republic of South Africa and Namibia. In Namibia they are found throughout the entire country except in the north-eastern and south-eastern parts. The total population size of brown hyenas is estimated to be between 5000 and 8000 animals, which makes them one of the most rare large African carnivores.

Distribution of brown hyenas in Namibia (pink: high density, blue: medium density, green: low density)

The brown hyena’s current conservation status in Namibia is “insufficiently known (vulnerable or endangered)”. Namibian authorities consider the species to be extremely vulnerable in Namibia and it is likely to become endangered if present declining population trends continue. In Namibia 800 to 1200 brown hyenas occur and the coastal areas of the Namib Desert are of major importance, as this area is inhabited by over 50% of the total Namibian population. There are only six conservation areas with governmental or private protection status within the brown hyenas distribution range, where viable brown hyena populations occur; one of them is the coastal region of the southern Namib Desert within the Succulent Karoo Biome (SKB). Like the spotted hyena, brown hyenas show the typical body proportions of strong muscular neck and shoulders and less strong hindlegs. Due to their long fur cover this shape is hardly seen, unless in movement. Brown hyenas weigh around 40 kg, with the males being slightly heavier than females.

Brown hyenas live in groups, generally called clans. Most members of a clan are related and usually only one female gives birth at a time to a litter of 1 to 4 cubs. Cubs are raised in dens, which are also the social meeting point of the clan. All members bring food back to the den in order to provide the cubs with additional food. Brown hyenas spend a lot of time at the dens, playing and socialising with the cubs, which helps the cubs to learn social behaviour. It takes 15 months for them to be fully weaned and before they are ready to leave the den. Other than at dens, brown hyenas are usually seen on their own, while searching for food. They cover vast areas and it is not uncommon for them to travel as far as 40 km in a single night. They eat nearly everything they can find, from fruit and insects to mammals. Brown hyenas seldom hunt small or medium-sized mammals and usually rely on carcasses of animals, which died naturally or were killed by other predators. At the Namib Desert Coast, brown hyenas are the only large predators and their only competitors are black-backed jackals. Prey density is generally low and therefore they can’t rely on regular meals found as carcasses. However carrion, such as seabirds or Cape fur seals, is washed up along the entire Namibian coastline and serves as an important food source.