Hyena and Cub

International Hyena Day on April 27th is an opportunity to look at these amazing animals in a new light.

As a species, Hyenas have had a bad rap. They are seen as cackling thieving, scavenging, dirty and frequently associated with witchcraft across much of Africa.

Yet the opposite is true, as Matt Becker, CEO of Tusk’s partner, the Zambian Carnivore Programme, says,

 ‘Hyenas are so cool!  Anyone who spends time around them loves them.  They are very good mothers, investing substantial amounts of time in raising their cubs. Yes, they are opportunistic and will readily scavenge (lions and leopards scavenge too), but they are also skilled hunters, for which they receive little credit …”

Tusk supports ZCP’s ‘Women in Wildlife Conservation Training Programme’, which helps protect carnivores, including hyenas.

Historically, hyenas were widespread and abundant across Africa, but the lack of interest and support has translated into a general lack of information on their status, despite the fact they are subject to the same threats as big cats and wild dogs, all of whom are species of concern.

‘In any areas that are human-impacted, hyenas are definitely feeling the pressure,’ says Matt. ‘They are very frequently snared as by-catch, get into trouble with livestock and are directly persecuted. They also have smaller litter sizes, so are less likely to be able to recover quickly compared to the other carnivores. If we lose them we’d lose a top carnivore with important ecological impacts. But equally importantly, we’d lose one of the most fascinating and complex species in Africa.”

In the South Luangwa Valley, snaring and habitat encroachment remain the primary threats to wildlife. Every year, with Tusk’s support, Conservation South Luangwa (CSL) deploys anti-poaching ground and aerial patrols. In October 2024, a hyena with a deep snare around its neck was spotted in the south of South Luangwa National Park; a team successfully darted the hyena and removed the snare fashioned from nylon rope (often used to catch birds). (It is estimated that Tusk’s support contributes to an average 600 snare recoveries each year by CSL anti-poaching patrols overall).

Rachel McRobb, Conservation South Luangwa’s CEO, said, “Hyenas are vital to the health of South Luangwa’s ecosystem, but are all too often overlooked as a species. They are fierce and fascinating predators that play a vital role in keeping our ecosystem in balance. Over the 25 years I have lived here in the South Luangwa Valley, I have come to deeply respect these intelligent, resilient animals and the role they play in the landscape we’re fighting to protect.”