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Spotted Hyaena Research
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

About the Spotted Hyaena

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Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management (DNPWLM) acknowledged the need for professional research on the wildlife in Hwange National Park. (Hwange is Zimbabwe’s premier National Park and covers 14,5000 sq.km). To assist data collection a Carnivore Research Unit (CRU) was formed with the specific aim of conducting very detailed and long-term research on all carnivores in the Park but particularly the large carnivores of lion (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera pardus), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) and painted hunting dog (Lycaon pictus).

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Masters thesis by Julia Salnicki

The Carnivore Research Unit began operation in March 1999 and is assisted by a number of volunteer Ecologists and Zoologists who run research projects on the individual carnivores. One of these Zoologists is Nolwenn Drouet-Hoguet, a French woman, who from March 2004 has taken over the Hyaena Project which was initiated by Julia Salnicki in 1999.

Juvenile hyaena in the Park

For this new phase of the Hyaena research (from 2004 to 2007), Nolwenn Drouet-Hoguet will run the project alone. At present DNPWLM does not have enough trained ecologists of its own so Nolwenn continues to train the National Parks staff attached to the Carnivore Research Unit as part of her research and conservation studies.

Why Study Hyaenas?

As opportunistic carnivores spotted hyaenas are well adapted to their environment, and social behaviour, as well as hunting behaviour, is in accordance with local ecological conditions. Most studies on spotted hyaenas have been conducted in the open savannas of East Africa and results from these studies could not easily be adapted to Hwange National Park which has few open areas and is mostly teak forests and low bush.

The spotted hyaena is widely distributed within Africa south of the Sahara in a variety of ecosystems however, its population numbers have been greatly reduced in many savanna areas and the species has been almost exterminated in South Africa. The population of spotted hyaena within Zimbabwe is estimated at 5,600 but is found here mostly within, and along the borders of, protected areas such as National Parks and Wildlife Conservancies and is classified by IUCN/SSC as ‘Lower Risk: Conservation Dependent’.

The rapid decline of populations outside conservation areas due to persecution and habitat loss makes hyaenas increasingly dependent on the continued existence of protected areas (IUCN 1998). As Hwange National Park holds around 20% of the hyaena population of the country in one protected area, it is a very important stronghold for the species.

The hyaena is not as powerful as the lion, or as beautiful as the leopard and not as fast as the cheetah. But in the carnivore world of an African National Park, hyaenas play one of the most important ecological roles. Being an excellent hunter they often take weak and sick animals, which leaves the fitter animals to breed; they often provide lions with food as lions frequently steal prey from the hyaenas.

As the most numerous large predator, spotted hyaenas play an important role in the ecosystem of Hwange National Park and as an indicator species their presence is extremely important for the bio-diversity of this managed area. Knowledge on the ecology of predators is a major prerequisite for the successful management of carnivores and population dynamics, home range size and distribution, impact on prey and the relationships with other predators, are all extremely important issues for formulating management plans.

To address these issues and to give the DNPWLM tools for managing spotted hyaenas in Hwange National Park the purpose of the Hyaena Research & Conservation Project is to obtain in situ data on:

· Population and density of spotted hyaenas
· Home Range distribution and size
· Diet of hyaenas
· Interaction with other carnivores
· Social Behaviour of spotted hyaenas in the typical mixed woodland environment of Hwange National Park

Training of the National Parks Staff

As part of the spotted hyaena research Nolwenn undertakes regular training of the National Parks staff. Instruction is given in all data collecting methods in the field as well as training on various software and other methods of data analysis. Training of Zimbabwean ecologists is deemed an integral and highly important part of this hyaena research programme.

Pilani and Skippy from National Parks receive training. Julia checks and explains monitoring of breathing of darted hyaena to Pilani, whilst Skippy takes notes as directed and Greg measures oxygen levels. Note digital thermometer records rectal temperature; and eyes and ears of hyaena are covered to reduce sensitivity to movement and noise.

Conservation

Conservation of Spotted Hyaenas particularly around the edges of National Parks and other protected areas, is considered an integral part of the hyaena research project. As snaring is on the rise around Hwange National Park, due to the increase in poverty of the local people, only specially designed ‘anti-snare’ radio collars are being used. These have special rivets on a metal plate at the front of the collar which help trap the wires of the snare and so stop the animal from incurring a terribly slow and painful death by having its neck severed. Snares are not laid for hyaenas but as they are indiscriminate they trap, maim and kill all species of animals.

Education and awareness of why we should care and conserve our wildlife and their environments is an integral part of conservation. Nolwenn writes publications and gives talks in order to inform the public about hyaena ecology and facts on carnivore biodiversity preservation in a protected area.

Children at the Main Camp school being taught by Julia on the importance of conservation.

Last updated October 2004