May 2004

The breeding cycle of the Brown Hyena is disturbed by farmer’s game fencing their property as it  prevents contact with neighboring animals completely.

As to our knowledge there has not been a count on the Brown Hyena population in South Africa up to date. Namibia has however done a count and their population is standing on ± 2000 animals.

It is a known fact that the Brown Hyena has been shot on sight as farmers thought them to be the culprit of many cattle deaths. This misconception has not changed as farmers still shoot and poison animals today.

To my horror after studying the subject of the Brown Hyena and deciding to start a breeding project I found that as recent as a month ago one of my neighbours shot a whole clan of Brown Hyena after finding them eating at a carcass. Explaining to him how their social structure works as well as their predatory habits did little to bring back the only breeding clan in my direct area. There is however one solitary animal left on his farm that he promised not to shoot on condition that I come and remove it once permission is granted for the project.

Another farmer that heard of the planned project called from Tolwe stating that he had actually planned to shoot the estimated 5 animals on his farm but if they are as endangered as I think I am welcome to come and catch them as he does not want them on his farm. In this relocation effort I discovered another problem, permits take up to 3 months to be issued and in this time the farmer would take matters in own hand and get rid of the animals. Further more I need the status as a breeding facility to get un-wanted young that would otherwise land up in private collections and zoos that would not be bothered to follow the difficult breeding program.  

For captive breeding it is very difficult to work with wild animals and I also think very unfair for the animal, by getting the status of the animal changed we could re-locate the problem animals so much quicker and save the animals life.

The Brown Hyena was initially listed in Appendix I in 1975, was downgraded to Appendix II in 1995, then completely deleted from the CITES listing in 2000. www.cites.org

They were also downgraded in the IUCN red list, being listed as Vulnerable in 1990, and in 2000 they are listed as Near Threatened. They were regarded as rare in the South African Red Data Book. The listing for the brown hyena has since been removed completely. www.iucnredlist.org

Please note that Nature Conservation South Africa pointed out to us that we can not use IUCN or CITES figures as this is a control list in sale of endangered animals, so because it is ugly and not sought after it is not listed and therefore does not get any protection under the law. 

   Email: info@brownhyen.org.za
Tel: 015-453 0693 Fax: 015-453 0742 Cell 082 693 1745