Hyaena Hyaena Research Articles

Climatic scenario-based integrated recurrent ensemble model for energy demand forecasting

This study presents an improved approach to estimate future energy demand based on climate scenarios, upstream documents, and Machine Learning (ML). To accurately predict future weather conditions, a Regional Climate Model (RCM) is developed. The RCM incorporates an ensemble approach that combines the power of recurrent neural network and recurrent random forest algorithms to analyze relevant data. The demand model incorporates correction coefficients that are derived from behavioral and variations in income, coupled with an ensemble and recurrent ML models. Four scenarios named from the distinctive wildlife are considered for Tehran, I. R. Iran as a real case study for megacities. The average temperature in the Caracal, Striped hyena, and Balochistan black bear scenarios is projected to be 0.91 °C, 2.01 °C, and 2.86 °C higher than the Persian cheetah scenario between 2015 and 2100. Similarly, natural gas demands are estimated to be 0.93, 4.91, and 3.38 times higher than the Persian cheetah scenario by 2050, respectively. The electricity demand is also 14, 3.98, and 3.50 times higher in the Caracal, Striped hyena, and Balochistan black scenarios compared to the Persian cheetah.This study has developed scenarios delineating future temperature conditions, as well as revealing how energy demand changes within climate change. The results of this study precisely identify the influential features for predicting future energy demand and temperature, indicating that utilizing recurrent models is preferable for forecasting future temperature and energy demand.These changes in the energy demand have significant implications for investment in the energy supply sector as well as the greenhouse gas emissions and the air pollution levels. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize climate scenarios that lead to a decrease in energy demand to reach sustainable zero-emission cities.

Indian Grey Wolf and Striped Hyaena sharing from the same bowl: High niche overlap between top predators in a human-dominated landscape

The Semi-arid wildlands of the West Bengal state of India are known habitats of Indian Grey Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) and Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) in India. However, increasing anthropogenic pressure in these regions is one major factor behind habitat loss and rising carnivore-human conflict. We mapped the suitable habitat and estimated the niche overlap of both species in the study landscape. Further, we assessed the habitat quality, identified corridors and quantified land sharing by both species. The anthropogenic disturbance (human settlements) was found to be one of the most significant contributors for both species. The higher Schoener’s D (0.612) and Hellinger’s based I value (0.858) indicates a considerable niche overlap of about 3529 km2. We observed a high level of fragmentation in suitable patches of Grey Wolf compared to the Striped Hyaena. For both Striped Hyaena and Grey Wolf, connectivity exists among the large patch of western and southern Purulia and Bankura. The Grey Wolf corridors in the Jhargram district were also found connected with other areas. We found that both the species, which are generally known rivals showing tolerance towards each other, which is an strong evidence of land sharing among the species. We recommend that the suitable patches and corridors identified in the study may be prioritized for conservation and management.

Density responses of lesser-studied carnivores to habitat and management strategies in southern Tanzania's Ruaha-Rungwa landscape.

Compared to emblematic large carnivores, most species of the order Carnivora receive little conservation attention despite increasing anthropogenic pressure and poor understanding of their status across much of their range. We employed systematic camera trapping and spatially explicit capture-recapture modelling to estimate variation in population density of serval, striped hyaena and aardwolf across the mixed-use Ruaha-Rungwa landscape in southern Tanzania. We selected three sites representative of different habitat types, management strategies, and levels of anthropogenic pressure: Ruaha National Park's core tourist area, dominated by Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and thickets; the Park's miombo woodland; and the neighbouring community-run MBOMIPA Wildlife Management Area, also covered in Acacia-Commiphora. The Park's miombo woodlands supported a higher serval density (5.56 [Standard Error = ±2.45] individuals per 100 km2) than either the core tourist area (3.45 [±1.04] individuals per 100 km2) or the Wildlife Management Area (2.08 [±0.74] individuals per 100 km2). Taken together, precipitation, the abundance of apex predators, and the level of anthropogenic pressure likely drive such variation. Striped hyaena were detected only in the Wildlife Management Area and at low density (1.36 [±0.50] individuals per 100 km2), potentially due to the location of the surveyed sites at the edge of the species' global range, high densities of sympatric competitors, and anthropogenic edge effects. Finally, aardwolf were captured in both the Park's core tourist area and the Wildlife Management Area, with a higher density in the Wildlife Management Area (13.25 [±2.48] versus 9.19 [±1.66] individuals per 100 km2), possibly as a result of lower intraguild predation and late fire outbreaks in the area surveyed. By shedding light on three understudied African carnivore species, this study highlights the importance of miombo woodland conservation and community-managed conservation, as well as the value of by-catch camera trap data to improve ecological knowledge of lesser-studied carnivores.

Thanatological behavior of a female Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)

We report an observation at Jhalana Leopard Reserve (JLR), Jaipur, India. On 16 March 2019, we saw a female walking up the mountain while calling her two, 4-month-old, male and female cubs. This allowed several safari jeeps to park in the shade of nearby Acacia trees. Two Striped Hyenas (Hyaena hyaena) approached and sniffed at the base of one of the trees near the parked jeeps. Upon seeing the Hyaenas, the female ran down the mountain, passed between the jeeps, and climbed into the tree. That is when we noticed the body of the female cub at a height of approximately 4.5 m. The female licked the body of the cub for several minutes and then picked it up in her mouth, climbed down from the tree, passed again between the jeeps, and walked up the mountain towards a dense stand of Thor (Euphorbia caducifolia), a thorny cactus. Our observations display how a mother leopard that has lost a cub refuses to abandon the carcass, cached it in a tree, and when discovered by scavengers removed it to a thicket of cacti. We consider the behavior towards her dead cub, and subsequent caching when discovered by other animals, to be the first evidence for thanatological expression in leopards.

Mammalian fauna in an urban influenced zone of Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha, India

A camera trapping survey to estimate the species richness and relative abundance of different mammalian fauna and various anthropogenic activities was carried out for four months within an urban influenced zone of Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha. The survey extended over 120 days in January–April 2019 over 10% of the total sanctuary area. With nine cameras and a total effort of 771 trap days, 2,855 independent photographs including 14 species of wild mammals and birds, human traffic, and movement of stray animals were captured. Among the mammalian fauna, Golden Jackal was the most photographed species whereas the Asian Elephant, Striped Hyaena, and Common Palm Civet were the least photographed species. Various anthropogenic activities like intensive movement of departmental vehicles, staff, feral livestock, and stray dogs and cats were also recorded and these activities need to be addressed in management activities for long term conservation of the area and its mammalian fauna. In order to enhance biological connectivity and improve movement of wildlife between the main part of the Chandaka Sanctuary and its near-detached reserved forests in Jagannathprasad-Bharatpur, the study recommends removal of feral cattle, extensive plantations, and construction of a fly-over for vehicular traffic.

A BONE ASSEMBLAGE FROM A STRIPED HYAENA (HYAENA HYAENA) DEN IN THE NEGEV DESERT, ISRAEL

ABSTRACT The den of a striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) in the northern Negev desert, Israel, was excavated in 1986. The den and spatial distribution of its component parts are described. The skeletal parts and scats sampled are the richest known from any recent hyaena den and are described in detail, as they relate to available data on hyaena behaviour. Skeletal remains suggest that hyaenas of the Negev scavenge remains of domestic stock that have died naturally, including high proportions of equids, camels and caprines, and they may prey upon canids during conflicts over carcasses. Faeces provide unique insights into the dietary habits of striped hyaenas, revealing evidence of predation upon small mammals, birds, reptiles and arthropods. Finally, species and body parts represented by the skeletons, their sex and age ratios and the qualitative damage to bones may provide diagnostic criteria in the taphonomic interpretation of fossil and sub-fossil bone assemblages.

Arabian Leopard, Panthera pardus nimr, status and habitat assessment in northwest Dhofar, Oman

The Arabian Leopard Panthera pardus nimr is considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN and published information about this subspecies is scarce. We assessed the status of the species on the border of one of the most important remnants of its current range, the Dhofar mountain range. In this border area, the relative abundance of leopards (0.067 scats per kilometre) was found to be seven times lower than that reported from prime habitat areas in Dhofar. This result suggests that the leopard occurs in this border area in low numbers or uses it only intermittently. This is compatible with expected sub-optimal conditions found along the borders of the species’ ranges. Furthermore, herders have reported that leopards used to be encountered more frequently in earlier times, which is also supportive evidence of higher vulnerability of this big cat along the edge of its distribution area. However, the habitat of the study area was found to be in relatively good condition, harbouring the leopard’s main prey species and a number of regionally threatened large mammalian fauna, including the Nubian Ibex Capra nubiana, Arabian Gazelle Gazella gazella, Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis, Striped Hyaena Hyaena hyaena sultana, Caracal Caracal caracal schmitzi and Arabian Wolf Canis lupus arabs. Causes of the leopard decline in the area remain unclear, but given the availability of prey it is possible that human interference may have led to the retraction of the leopard’s range.

Distribution of the Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena syriaca Matius, 1882) (Carnivora: Hyaenidae) in urban and rural areas of Lebanon

Striped Hyaenas (Hyaena hyaena syriaca) remain widely distributed across Lebanon, as revealed from a compilation of sources ranging from newspapers, to oral and official ministerial reports. They were observed in both urban and rural sites, and across non-protected and protected areas in all governorates, except in the densely populated capital Beirut. Interactions between Striped Hyaenas and people were studied in six identified sites representing a range of ecological, socio-economic and conservation-related conditions. Indirect signs determined by transect surveys of Striped Hyaenas, including footprints, hairs and scats, which were conducted from September 2002 to August 2003, indicate differences in the relative abundance of Striped Hyaenas between the different study sites. Very few indirect signs of Striped Hyaenas were noted in the two nature reserves studied, with more signs outside of these reserves in both urban and rural settings.

Endocrine aspects of sexual mimicry in Spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta

Female Spotted hyaenas mimic the male in the possession of a peniform and highly erectile clitoris and false scrotum. Sex hormones have been assayed in the blood plasma, gonads and adrenal glands of male and female Spotted hyaenas and in the blood plasma of Striped and Brown hyaenas. Although the testicular concentration of testosterone greatly exceeds that of the ovaries in Spotted hyaenas, there is no significant difference between the sexes in the mean plasma levels of this hormone, or of the other androgen assayed, andro‐stenedione. In contrast, male Brown and Striped hyaenas have far higher plasma concentrations of testosterone than females.Testosterone levels in twin female Spotted hyaena foetuses were similar to the mean for adult females and it is suggested that high foetal androgen levels are responsible for the appearance of the male sexual facies in adult female Spotted hyaenas. The high plasma androgen levels recorded in adult females may also be associated with their aggression and dominance of males.

Feeding and social behaviour of the striped hyaena (Hyaena vulgaris Desmarest)*

SummaryObservations are presented on food, foraging behaviour, ranging and some social behaviour patterns of the striped hyaena; these observations are compared with similar ones on spotted hyaenas. Striped hyaenas are more omnivorous than spotted ones, scavenging a great deal and eating insects, fruits and small vertebrate prey. However, the diets of the two species have several food species in common, and there is competition in the relatively small area where the geographical ranges and habitats of the two hyaenas overlap.Striped hyaenas are solitary, and they show several behavioural adaptations to this. The relationship between the hyaenas' social organization and resource exploitation is discussed.