Research

The coastal Namib Desert brown hyenas are ecologically unique, as they scavenge and prey almost exclusively on Cape fur seal pups, which are born at mainland seal colonies, and which are a localised, permanent food source. No other large predators occur in our coastal study areas and therefore the brown hyenas are the apex predators, only competing with black-backed jackals. Our main study area is the Sperrgebiet (Restricted Diamond Area). The coastline stretches over 250 km from north of Luderitz to Oranjemund in the south and the entire study area extends 100 km inland.