The Mysterious Brown Hyena: Nature’s Desert Lifeline from Sea to Sand

image copyright, Wim van den Heever

photo caption, Brown hyenas are known to be the rarest species of hyena in the world.

Article related information

• • reporter, Martha Henriques
  • reporter, BBC News

• 4 hours ago

There is a hidden story behind this photo, which won the ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ award for a mysterious hyena living in the desolate Namib Desert.

Kolmanskop, a diamond mining town where people left long ago, is quiet at night. Tourists who come to see the sand-filled buildings of this early 20th-century settlement near the Atlantic coast of Namibia, southern Africa, all return to their lodgings at night. However, an unexpected movement is detected in this desolate street. A brown hyena wanders between buildings and alleys half buried in the sand.

When the hyena appears, a blinding flash of light explodes. It was the moment when 10 years of work by Wim van den Hever, a wildlife photographer from South Africa, finally came to fruition.

The photo taken in this way won the Grand Prix Award at the ‘Wild Animal Photographer of the Year Award’ organized by the Natural History Museum in London. Not only the composition of the photo but also the subject is interesting.

Brown hyenas are considered the rarest species of hyena in the world. This incredibly adaptable animal has made an abandoned diamond mining town in Namibia its home.

image copyright, Marie Lemerle

photo caption, Brown hyenas are responsible for transporting important nutrients from the sea to the Namib Desert

Van den Hever visits the Namib Desert once a year while running a nature photography program around the world. From his first visit to the desert, he was convinced that brown hyenas roamed the village every night. “Because we found hyena droppings and footprints all over the village.” Based on this conviction, he came up with the idea to photograph hyenas against the impressive backdrop of a ruined village.

To capture the hyena, van den Hever tried several methods. Finally, I decided to go into Kolmanskop between 2 and 3 am, when the village was completely empty, and set up a camera trap. But the task was not easy. This is because brown hyenas are very alert and are mainly active at night. Over the years, he had only seen hyenas briefly far away from the village, and most of the times he saw them running in the opposite direction.

The harsh environment of the Namib Desert also made photography difficult. When the east wind blows here, sand piles up to a meter high overnight and covers the equipment. “There were one or two years when the camera was completely broken,” he said. On the other hand, when the west wind blew from the sea, thick fog came in, and he recalled, “Even when I took pictures of the hyenas, it was so cloudy that I couldn’t see anything.”

image copyright, Wim van den Heever

photo caption, In addition to brown hyenas, van den Hever also photographed other animals, including jackals.

Deciding where to install the camera trap was not easy. He imagined the route the hyenas would take to and from the abandoned village and said, “I thought that to get to this village, they had to pass through this plain.” “I decided that if I got the timing right, I could capture the hyena and the house in one frame. So I chose that composition and placed the camera.”

After that, there was only a long wait. Ten years have passed since I first visited Kolmanskop. Meanwhile, his camera traps captured a few jackals, but never a good shot of the brown hyena.

Then one night, all the conditions met perfectly. A hyena walked into the expected spot. “My camera worked three times that night. The first time was when I was testing it in the field, the second time it didn’t capture anything, and then the third time it captured a hyena.”

He said he almost cried when he first saw the scene captured on camera. “It was exactly how I imagined it. It was exactly the scene I wanted to capture from the first day of this project. It was the result I had invested all that time and effort into.”

image copyright, Marie Lemerle

photo caption, Brown hyenas are known to be the rarest species of hyena in the world, but their population remains relatively stable.

It is currently estimated that between 4,370 and 10,110 brown hyenas live in southern Africa. Marie Lemerle, who runs the brown hyena research project in the village of Lüderitz, about 12km from Kolmanskop, said the species was classified as “near-threatened” but its population was relatively stable.

“The brown hyena is a very new and rare species,” Lemerle said. “They are likely living in places you wouldn’t expect.” Also, they are very quiet animals. While the well-known spotted hyena has a distinctive howl that resonates far away, the brown hyena makes almost no sound. “If this animal passes by your tent, you might not even hear it,” Lemerle said. “You’ll only find out the next morning when you see its tracks.”

Kolmanskop and Lüderitz are located within a national park the size of New Jersey. In 1908, this area was closed to the public for diamond mining. Although it’s not as strict now, Lemerle said, “it’s still one of the few places in the world that is well-preserved in its natural state.”

image copyright, Wim van den Heever

photo caption, The village of Kolmanskop was abandoned in the early 20th century when people left.

Brown hyenas are the region’s top predators, mainly hunting seal pups along the coast. “These animals play an important role in providing nutrients to the harsh and nutrient-poor desert environment,” Le Merle said. A deserted mining town becomes a haven for hyenas to escape the heat in the treeless desert terrain. “Hyenas prefer these old buildings as hiding places.”

In another abandoned mining town about 30km away, a hyena gave birth in the basement of an old building. “The building had a kitchen, and there were pipes connected to the floor and walls, and the hyena used one of those pipes to give birth,” Lemerle said. “Even now, the hyenas are using old pipes and man-made structures as dens.”

Le Merle pointed out that although old settlements are useful to hyenas, new developments and road construction pose a major threat. One of the main causes of death for hyenas is being hit by a vehicle on the road. Outside the park, conflicts with humans also exist. This is because many farmers consider hyenas to be harmful animals.

“Hyenas have a bad reputation overall.” “This is despite the fact that brown hyenas rarely hunt livestock,” Lemerle said.

“The perception that hyenas are ugly, smelly, harmful animals is unfair,” he said. “They play a very important role in the ecosystem as scavengers that eat dead animals. By removing rotting carcasses, they prevent the spread of disease and purify the ecosystem.”

image copyright, Wim van den Heever

photo caption, Brown hyenas are a species that makes creative use of abandoned buildings in the desert.

Natural History Museum zoologist Natalie Cooper said she hoped van den Hever’s photos would help change perceptions of hyenas. “This photo reminds us that both humans and wildlife are part of nature, and sends the message that we must strive to coexist with them.”

He also said, “Photos like this can help fill the gap in people’s understanding of nature.” Global biodiversity is rapidly decreasing due to human activities, but many people do not realize the implications. “A good photo can give those people something to think about,” Cooper said.

Looking back on 10 years of hard work, van den Hever burst into laughter. “It makes me laugh to see myself putting so much effort into this one photo. I’m not sure if I should call that incredible dedication or if I’m just really stupid.”

Considering that he won the Grand Prix for ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’, it is definitely not the latter. But he said the work is not done yet.

“There are always new things that can be added.” van den Hever said. “It could be a photo of a hyena holding a seal pup in its mouth, or it could be a picture of a hyena winking. It could be two hyenas, or they could be running around in the photo. That’s why photographers always reflect on themselves and keep trying new things. They are people who are never satisfied.”

How does the brown hyena’s diet demonstrate its ecological role beyond simply being a scavenger?

Unveiling the Brown Hyena ( Parahyaena brunnea)

The brown hyena, often overshadowed by its more famous spotted cousin, is a fascinating and critically important species inhabiting the arid landscapes of Southern Africa. These scavengers, predators, and ecosystem engineers play a vital role in maintaining the health of their surroundings, from coastal regions to the deepest deserts. Understanding their behavior, diet, and conservation status is crucial for ensuring their survival. This article delves into the world of the brown hyena, exploring its unique adaptations and ecological importance.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat

Brown hyenas exhibit a remarkable range, stretching along the western coast of Southern Africa, from Angola to South Africa. Their habitat is incredibly diverse, encompassing:

* Coastal Dunes: Utilizing marine resources and scavenging along the shoreline.

* Semi-Arid Shrublands: Finding shelter and prey in the sparse vegetation.

* Deserts: Adapting to extreme temperatures and limited water sources, like the Namib Desert.

* Grasslands & Savannas: Expanding their range were sufficient food and denning sites are available.

This adaptability highlights their resilience, but also makes them vulnerable to habitat loss and fragmentation. namibian brown hyenas are particularly well-studied due to their relatively high population density in that region.

Diet and Foraging Behavior: More Than Just Scavengers

While often labeled as scavengers, brown hyenas are opportunistic omnivores with a surprisingly varied diet. Their foraging strategies are complex and demonstrate intelligence:

1. Carrion consumption: A critically important portion of their diet consists of carcasses of large mammals – antelope, zebra, and even whales washed ashore.
2. Predation: They actively hunt smaller mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. Studies show they are capable predators, particularly of smaller antelope species.
3. Marine Resources: Coastal populations supplement their diet with fish, seals, and seabirds. They’ve been observed digging for shellfish and scavenging on beached marine life.
4. Fruit & Vegetation: During certain seasons, they consume fruits and roots, adding to their dietary diversity.

Their powerful jaws and digestive systems allow them to process bones – a crucial source of nutrients and minerals. This bone-crushing ability sets them apart from many other carnivores.

social Structure and Clan Dynamics

Brown hyenas live in clans, typically consisting of a dominant pair and their offspring, along with subordinate individuals. Clan size varies, but averages between 5-20 individuals.

* Dominance Hierarchy: A strict social hierarchy governs access to food and mating opportunities. The dominant female is usually the most powerful member of the clan.

* Scent Marking: Brown hyenas utilize scent marking extensively, using secretions from their anal glands to communicate territory boundaries, individual identity, and social status. These scent markings, known as paste, are deposited on prominent objects like rocks and bushes.

* Cooperative Hunting & Defense: While primarily solitary hunters, clan members may occasionally cooperate in bringing down larger prey or defending their territory.

* Denning behavior: Clans typically occupy a network of dens, often in rocky outcrops or abandoned burrows.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Brown hyenas have a relatively slow reproductive rate.

* Gestation Period: Approximately 110 days.

* Litter Size: Typically 1-3 cubs.

* Cub Progress: Cubs are born in dens and remain dependent on their mother for several months. They gradually learn to forage and hunt alongside other clan members.

* Lifespan: In the wild, brown hyenas can live for up to 10-13 years, though some individuals may survive longer.

Conservation Status and Threats

The brown hyena is currently listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. However, several factors pose significant threats to their populations:

* Habitat loss & fragmentation: agricultural expansion, urbanization, and infrastructure development are reducing and isolating suitable habitat.

* Human-Wildlife Conflict: Perceived threats to livestock can lead to persecution by farmers.

* Poaching: Even though less common than for other large carnivores,brown hyenas are sometimes targeted for their body parts,used in conventional medicine.

* Road Mortality: Increasing road networks fragment habitats and lead to collisions with vehicles.

* Climate Change: Altered rainfall patterns and increased drought frequency can impact prey availability and water sources.