Striped Hyena : Spotted
A rare striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) was spotted in the Kali Tiger Reserve in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka.
- The Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is a mammal belonging to the family Hyaenidae.
- The Hyaenidae family has four members: Striped hyenas, Spotted hyenas, Brown hyenas, and the aardwolf (which is not a wolf)
- It is a bit smaller than the spotted hyenas and has stripes all over their bodies.
- It is mainly found in South Asia (India, Nepal, Afghanistan), North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Asia, and Central Asia.
- It lives in open savannas, grasslands, and scrub woodlands in arid to semi-arid environments.
- They are territorial creatures and scent-mark their territorial boundaries as a warning to their rivals.
- Striped hyenas are primarily scavengers and eat mainly carrion and human refuse
- Adult Striped hyena females are dominant over males and aggressive toward other females.
- The striped hyena is generally considered solitary, but has some social organization.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Near Threatened.
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule.
