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Newsletter Features:
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Brown
Hyenas of Botswana
This research study aims to investigate the feeding behavior and movement of brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) populations living in close proximity to cattle post communities in the Makgadikgadi region of Northern Botswana. Particular emphasis will be placed on studying the ecological interactions between brown hyenas and humans living in the area. The level of conflict between the two species will be quantified and ideas for conflict resolution proposed. Data on brown hyena diet and movement in relation to food provided by human activities will be collected and analyzed. The brown hyena as reliance on food obtained from village areas in the form of domestic livestock will be determined. All data collected will be used to reduce the level of conflict present between brown hyena and humans by a process of information provision and education.
The study will also produce a reliable estimate of the number of brown hyenas in the area. No studies have been conducted on brown hyenas in the Makgadikgadi as yet and nothing is known of their existence, behavior or ecology. Due to the uniqueness of the Makgadikgadi region, existing literature on brown hyena ecology and behavior in other areas cannot be translated to the Makgadikgadi. Brown hyenas are presently classed as near endangered and vulnerable, with a minimum approximate population of between 5000-8000 individuals. For the above reasons this study is highly conservation based. The larger aims of the study will be to promote the conservation of brown hyenas in the Makgadikgadi and in other areas of Southern Africa where conflict exists between brown hyena and human populations.
Preliminary data of Paucinover and Tsodilo: Paucinover's and Tsodilo's positions are shown in figure 3. Paucinove’s home range, evaluated by MCP at the 95% level is 610 km2 (one fix a night is randomly extracted from the GPS data). This is the area the hyena used within 37 days during the dry season.
Fig. 4: Positions of M4 a male brown hyena connected in chronological order (n= 1732 positions over 133 days) A typical impression from daily fieldwork is presented in figure 5. Glyn and the veterinarian Bom try to change the VHF collar from Tsodilo to GPS collar.
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The
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At
Left: Glyn Maude tries to get in contact with the GPS-collar of "Paucinover"
Fig.
1 at Left: Location of the investigation area in Botswana
Capture
of browns: To date eleven brown hyenas have been caught
for purposes of collaring or identification. Six have been caught in
baited cage traps and five in modified gin traps. At present there are
six brown hyenas with collars on. Five VHF collars and two GPS collar
on a 5-6 year old male ("Paucinover") and a sub-adult male
("Tsodilo"). Paucinover was caught deep into the Makgadikgadi
National Park, an area that for most of the wet season is inaccessible.
In
Figure 4 the GPS positions of M4, a male brown hyena are overlaid with
Landsat imagines. The yellow colored symbols represents different vegetation
structures. 1732 positions are downloaded from the collar via remote
UHF-link at several field trips. The communication range for Handheld
Terminal and the collar was in the mean 2.5 km on ground and about 30-40
km from plane.