Population trends of striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) in Israel for the past five decades

Abstract

The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is considered “Near Threatened” globally and “Vulnerable” in the Middle East. In Israel, the species has experienced extreme population fluctuations owing to poisoning campaigns during the British Mandate (1918–1948) which were also further exacerbated by the Israeli authorities in the mid-twentieth century. We collated data from the archives of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority for the past 47 years to elucidate the temporal and geographic trends of this species. During this period we found a 68% increase in population and the estimated density is at present 2.1 individuals/100km2. This is significantly higher than all previous estimates for Israel. It appears that the major factors contributing to their phenomenal increase in number are the increase in prey availability because of the intensification of human development, preying on Bedouin livestock, the extinction of the leopard (Panthera pardus nimr), and the hunting of wild boars (Sus scorfa) and other agricultural pests in some parts of the country. Reasons should also be sought in increasing people's awareness as well as in advanced technological capabilities that have allowed an improved observation and reporting system. Future studies need to understand the effects of the large concentrations of striped hyenas on the spatial distribution and temporal activity of other sympatric wildlife to ensure the continued persistence of the wildlife guilds in the Israeli nature.

Borrelia persica infection in wild carnivores in Israel: molecular characterization and new potential reservoirs

“…Its individual range of activity is very wide and documented to reach 72 and 44 km 2 for males and females, respectively [ 47 ]. In Israel, an increase in hyena population density has been observed over the past few decades, with about two individuals per 100 km 2 compared to 0.06 individuals per 100 km 2 in the 1970s [ 48 ]. In contrast to the European badger, hyenas are less common reservoirs for human infections, with only a few reports of zoonotic pathogen infection in wild hyenas [ 49 , 50 ].…”

“…Wild carnivore populations are expanding rapidly in many parts of Israel and encroaching into human habitation [ 48 , 58 ]. The potential role of wild carnivores as reservoirs of B. persica and their proximity to human settlements may be considered as a risk factor for human and companion animal infection, which control programs for TBRF should address.…”

Alloparenting by Helpers in Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena)

“…Additionally, variations in the environment and population density are known to influence reproductive output [ 35 ]. Populations of striped hyenas in Israel have shown a marked increase along with exploitation of human resources [ 26 , 27 , 28 ], which could also influence reproductive output and breeding strategies.…”

“…The fact that no other studies have definitively reported—except for the one unpublished observation [ 25 ]—the relatively high occurrence of alloparenting by helpers in striped hyenas may be because it is, in general, a rare phenomenon across the species range. However, one must also take into account that the number of studies on breeding in striped hyenas is negligible to non-existent; most studies address the ecology—that is, food/prey [ 48 , 49 , 50 ], den locations [ 51 ], physiology [ 52 ], distribution and densities [ 53 , 54 ], threats and conservation [ 55 , 56 ], social interactions [ 45 , 57 ], population trends [ 26 ], human-hyena conflict [ 58 ], etc.…”

“…In our ongoing study of striped hyenas [26][27][28] in the Judea region and the lower Judean hills between 1993-1995 and 2006-2023 (Table 1), we have observed and documented with still photographs, camera traps, and video camera thousands of hours of footage and live video recordings documenting parental behavior in the dens of striped hyena. All dens were located while driving in a 4 × 4 vehicle and following adults or by tracking them on foot.…”