Heterogeneity in the density of spotted hyaenas in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa

Graf, Jan A.; Somers, Michael J.; Gunther, Micaela Szykman; Slotow, Rob

doi:10.4098/j.at.0001-7051.095.2008

Cited by 18 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Furthermore, this pattern could be indirectly caused by both wild dogs' and hyenas' avoidance of lions, as lions are also a significant source of hyena mortality [42],[68]. It is also possible that wild dogs do not have the opportunity to avoid hyenas (except possibly at finer scales that were undetectable within our study) as their times of activity can overlap [69], [70] and because hyena densities in HiP are relatively high [22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Whateley and Brooks [66] found the average hyena clan size in HiP to be relatively small: between 9–14 individuals. Since then, hyena numbers have increased in the park through increasing numbers of clans [22], while feeding groups remain small. Large wild dog packs can better defend their kills, and for longer periods of time, than can smaller packs [67].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The heterogeneous environment of HiP supports a large and diverse prey base, from red duiker ( Cephalophus natalensis ) to greater kudu ( Tragelaphus strepsiceros ), and, as a result, a wide variety of both small and large predators, from black-backed jackals ( Canis mesomelas ) to lions. The abundance of lions in HiP was around 100 individuals at the start of this study [28], and the hyena population ranged from 300–400 individuals [22]. Wild dogs in HiP feed largely on nyala ( Tragelaphus angasi ) and impala ( Aepyceros melampus ; Kruger, Lawes & Maddock, 1999).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Space Use of African Wild Dogs in Relation to Other Large Carnivores

et al. 2014

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Interaction among species through competition is a principle process structuring ecological communities, affecting behavior, distribution, and ultimately the population dynamics of species. High competition among large African carnivores, associated with extensive diet overlap, manifests in interactions between subordinate African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) and dominant lions (Panthera leo) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). Using locations of large carnivores in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa, we found different responses from wild dogs to their two main competitors. Wild dogs avoided lions, particularly during denning, through a combination of spatial and temporal avoidance. However, wild dogs did not exhibit spatial or temporal avoidance of spotted hyenas, likely because wild dog pack sizes were large enough to adequately defend their kills. Understanding that larger carnivores affect the movements and space use of other carnivores is important for managing current small and fragmented carnivore populations, especially as reintroductions and translocations are essential tools used for the survival of endangered species, as with African wild dogs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Space Use of African Wild Dogs in Relation to Other Large Carnivores

et al. 2014

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“…It is even higher than densities found in some protected areas. For example, according to Graf et al (2008) the spotted hyena population density in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is about 33 hyenas per 100 km 2 and this population was the second largest protected population in South Africa. Trinkel (2009) reported a hyena density of 2 hyenas per 100 km 2 in Etosha National Park, Nambia and Sillero-Zubiri and Gottelli (1992) reported the highest known density of 134 hyenas per 100 km 2 in Aberdare National Park in Kenya.…”

Section: Spotted Hyena Abundancementioning

confidence: 99%

Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) coexisting at high density with people in Wukro district, northern Ethiopia

Yirga¹,

Ersino²,

Iongh³

et al. 2013

Mammalian Biology

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a b s t r a c tWe surveyed density and abundance of spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in the highly degraded and prey depleted Wukro district, northern Ethiopia, with a human population density of 98 persons per square kilometer. A total of 117 spotted hyenas responded to callups, giving a hyena density of 52 hyenas per 100 km 2 or a total population of 535 hyenas in the district. We quantified the economic impact of spotted hyena predation on livestock using semi structured interviews with randomly selected households. Respondents indicated a total loss of 203 domestic animals to hyena depredation over the past five years. Average annual depredation per household was 0.13 livestock worth US$ 6.1. The diet of spotted hyenas was assessed in three sub-districts by scat analysis and showed 99% prey items of domestic origin, only three of 211 scat contained hair of Ethiopian hare (Lepus fagani) and porcupine (Hystrix cristata). We conclude that hyenas in northern Ethiopia live at high density and eat almost exclusively anthropogenic food and are not dependent on conservation areas.

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“…Because of the thick vegetation and because both species surveyed were skittish and not habituated to cars, we could not conduct local calibration experiments. We thus used the average response distance and response rate among estimates from similar habitats for lions (Ogutu and Dublin, 1998;Kiffner et al, 2008;Ferreira and Funston, 2010;Cozzi, 2013) and spotted hyenas (Creel and Creel, 2002;Graf et al, 2009;Mills, 2001), resulting in a surveyed area of 27.0 km 2 Fig. 1.…”

Section: Density Estimatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Apex predators decline after an influx of pastoralists in former Central African Republic hunting zones

Aebischer

Tidjani

Hickisch

et al. 2020

Biological Conservation

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Pastoralism is spreading in Central Africa, where many protected areas are under consideration to be opened for grazing, in particular hunting zones. Here we document the loss of biodiversity followed by an influx of transhumant pastoralism into previously uninhabited and virtually pristine habitat in the Central African Republic. Our track count and camera trap surveys of 2012, 2016 and 2017 evidence a reduction of apex predators, particularly Northern lions (Panthera leo leo) and African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), of which about 95% and 80% were lost, respectively. While some large herbivores such as Western African buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) or Eastern giant eland (Tragelaphus derbianus gigas) were also strongly reduced, most herbivores remain at significant densities. Apex predator populations did thus not crash due to a lack of prey, but rather due to targeted killing by herders and accompanying merchants, as interviews confirmed. Our call-up survey suggests that lions were attracted by livestock outside of actively protected areas, were they got poisoned or shot. These findings exemplify the potential negative effects of pastoralism on wildlife even in large areas with intact habitat. We thus caution against the transformation of protected areas or hunting zones into pasture land, unless such a land-use change can be carefully managed and strictly controlled.

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Heterogeneity in the density of spotted hyaenas in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa

Cited by 18 publications

References 43 publications

Space Use of African Wild Dogs in Relation to Other Large Carnivores

Space Use of African Wild Dogs in Relation to Other Large Carnivores

Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) coexisting at high density with people in Wukro district, northern Ethiopia

Apex predators decline after an influx of pastoralists in former Central African Republic hunting zones

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