Hunting the Striped Hyena in Africa

The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is a hyena species native to North and East Africa, the Middle East, Caucasus, Central Asia and India. It is the most widespread hyena but not found in southern Africa and rarely seen on a game hunting safari anywhere! 

A shy, solitary, nocturnal carnivore, the striped hyena lives in mountainous regions and scrub woodlands, making dens in rocky hills, caves, ravines, and crevices. Sometimes, they may also use dense vegetation as cover to sleep and rest in. In Africa, it came off second best to the spotted hyena in open areas, and moved to more arid, mountainous regions away from competition. 

They are territorial animals and scent mark their boundaries as a warning to competitors. The hyena lives in small groups, scavenging only at night unless it is stormy, cloudy, or rainy. They forage alone, but a female may share her den and hunting ranges with her adult daughters when food is abundant.

Striped hyenas are typically not very vocal but will growl, screech, and subsequently roar if threatened. They have great big manes that they raise if threatened or upset, causing them to appear much larger to scare off predators. 

The striped hyena is primarily a scavenger and feasts on a diet of scavenged medium and large-sized animals such as wildebeests, gazelles, zebras, and impalas. They will also hunt and kill smaller animals, including rodents, reptiles, birds, and rabbits or hares. Their jaws are so strong that they will even chew the bones of a carcass!

Natural predators for hyenas include lions, tigers, spotted hyenas and leopards. They have been known to attack and kill humans, especially children, prey on livestock on farms and are targeted by man for game hunting and hyena hunting in Africa. Hunting of these animals not only eradicates them from the farmlands but also keeps local communities safe from becoming prey.