The Striped Hyena
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: DTE
Subject: Species in News
Context: Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have formally proposed including the striped hyena in Appendix I and II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) at the upcoming CMS COP15 in Brazil.
About The Striped Hyena:
What it is?
• The striped hyena is a medium-sized, nocturnal carnivore and the only hyena species found in the Indian subcontinent. While often misunderstood as a pure scavenger, it is a vital sanitary worker of the ecosystem, primarily feeding on carrion but also capable of hunting small prey.
Habitat and Distribution
• Global Range: Found across North and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent.
• Preferred Environments: They thrive in arid and semi-arid regions, including savannas, grasslands, semi-deserts, open woodlands, and rocky mountainous terrain.
Protection Status:
• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (Global); Vulnerable (Mediterranean region).
• CMS Proposal: Proposed for Appendix I (Endangered migratory species) and Appendix II (Species requiring international cooperation).
• Indian Law: Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, providing it the highest level of legal protection in India.
Key Characteristics:
Physical Traits:
• Appearance: Distinctive vertical black stripes on a grey or yellowish-brown coat.
• Mane: A prominent dorsal crest of long hair that it can erect to appear larger when threatened.
• Physiology: Possesses extremely powerful jaws capable of crushing the largest bones of a carcass to access the marrow.
Biological & Behavioral Traits:
• Nocturnal: Almost exclusively active at night, making them elusive and difficult to study.
• Diet: Primarily a scavenger; it plays a critical role in preventing the spread of diseases by consuming decaying carcasses.
• Movement: Known for long-distance dispersal and nomadic movements, often crossing international borders in search of food and water.
Social Structure:
• Solitary Nature: Unlike the social Spotted Hyena, the striped variety is generally solitary or lives in small family units (a pair and their offspring).
• Communication: They communicate through vocalizations, though they do not possess the famous laugh of the Spotted Hyena.
India and the Striped Hyena:
• India is a major stronghold for the species, particularly in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Ecological Niche: In India, they often inhabit the fringes of human settlements and Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) like the Kadbanwadi Grasslands in Maharashtra.