Current Status of the Striped Hyena in Pakistan

Abstract

The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is a species of great importance and significance for Pakistan as it is an ecological role player in arid and semi-arid ecosystems and is also an endangered species. This species plays a role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem, including scavenging dead animals, helping to spread disease, and cycling nutrients. The striped hyena is however under Critical Endangered category in Pakistan, because of habitat destruction, human-wildlife conflict, illegal killing, and road accidents. Habitat degradation, due to agricultural expansion, urbanization and infrastructure development, has resulted in fragmentation of hyenas and restricted their range. Furthermore, the conflict between the communities and the hyena is also a problem, with many communities in the area killing these animals in response to the annoyance they cause to their livestock. Scavengers as they are, hyenas are still often hunted, being victims of negative cultural beliefs and ignorance of their ecological values.

This review aims to collate existing information regarding the status, ecology, and conservation concerns of striped hyena in Pakistan. It emphasizes the critical need for holistic conservation efforts that involve restoring habitats, educating communities, managing livestock, and minimizing roadkill. There will also be a need for regional cooperation between Pakistan and neighboring countries such as Afghanistan and Iran for effective conservation. The review ends with recommendations for future strategies to safeguard the species' survival, including more up-to-date population counts, better enforcement of wildlife regulations and public education and awareness on how to minimize human-hyena interactions.