Striped hyena  (Hyaena hyaena)

One of the greatest threats to the striped hyena is the misconceptions and superstitions of humans. Believed to be responsible for killing livestock, robbing graves and the disappearance of small children, the striped hyena is severely persecuted through baiting, tracking and trapping. In the past, some governments have paid bounties for every hyena killed, and today the Indian government still organises killings of wolves and striped hyenas in places where carnivores are thought to be responsible for child disappearances. Even when not deliberately persecuted, striped hyenas are often poisoned by bait laid out for other carnivores, captured in traps set by fur trappers for other species, and killed in traffic accidents (3). The once very abundant striped hyena has now declined over most of its range and is extinct in many localities (2) (3); a result of not only those threats listed above, but also caused by a decline in carrion due to decreasing populations of other large carnivores (such as wolves, leopards and tigers) and their prey (3).

The striped hyena occurs in several protected areas throughout its range including Ranthambore National Park in India (8), and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, a World Heritage Site (9). In 1998, the Hyaena Specialist Group published a Conservation Action Plan which outlines actions required to improve the conservation status of all hyena species (3). The actions detailed for the striped hyena include campaigning for increased protection of the species throughout its range, and undertaking further studies of its behaviour, ecology and biology. It is also recognised that one of the most important, and possibly difficult, challenges, is to alter people's negative perception of hyenas. Before the striped hyena and its relatives are viewed in a more positive light, it will be difficult to improve the status of these fascinating animals (3).