Where Do Hyenas Live?

Now that we know where hyenas live, we discuss their habitat.

• Brown hyena: Brown hyena: develops in dry habitats with very little rainfall per year, less than 100 mm. In this sense, it lives in the coastal areas of the south, in semi-deserts, thickets, open savannas of the forested type, where there is higher rainfall. It also extends to inhabited and cultivated areas. He prefers rocky, mountainous areas where he finds bushy places to rest.
• Striped hyena: Its habitat consists of open areas or thorny, bushy areas characterized by aridity or semi – dryness. Although it can spread to the Sahara, it avoids open ecosystems as well as wooded areas or dense vegetation and very high mountains. However, in countries such as Lebanon and Jordan, it is found in oak forests and has also been observed at altitudes of about 10,498 feet (approximately 3,200 meters). It can also live close to human clusters.
• Spotted hyena: The species is more general in terms of habitat, as it can develop in semi – deserts and savannas, but also in open, dense and dry forests. It can also be found at altitudes of around 13,451.44 feet (approximately 4,100 m). Although they tolerate long periods without water, they require little water, so they spread from areas where water is generally low. Like the striped hyena, it can live close to human clusters.
• The earth wolf: Lives on open grassy plains and does not occur in extreme forests or deserts. It also lives in thickets, savannah forests and gravel plains. It can live in water-scarce areas, as it satisfies this need with food. Its range reaches altitudes of about 6561.68 feet (approximately 2000 m).

Depending on the species, hyenas inhabit certain protected areas in their native areas. For example, the brown hyena develops on a larger scale in unprotected areas, which has led to the fact that almost endangered direct fishing in these unregulated areas. They are mistaken for dangerous livestock, even though the risk is really low.

Other species of hyenas are more common in protected areas. However, there is a conflicting aspect, as some areas have been declared protected also allow the hunting of these animals.

Some protected areas where hyenas occur are:

• Namib-Naukluft Protected Area (CA)
• AC Skeleton Coast
• AC Tsau // Khaeb (restricted area)
• Etosha National Park (NP) (Namibia)
• Kgalagadi Transboundary NP (South Africa, Botswana)
• Makgadikgadi NP (Botswana)
• Pilanesberg NP (South Africa)
• Serengeti NP (Tanzania)
• Shamwari Game Reserve (RC) (Eastern Cape, South Africa)
• Central Kalahari RC (Botswana)
• RC Maswa

If you want to learn more about hyenas, don’t miss this next article, where we’ll talk about what hyenas eat.

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