Hyenas

All About a Nocturnal Predator

Hyenas are doglike carnivores found in Asia and Africa

They are known for their scavenging habits

Three species of hyenas are: spotted, brown, and striped. Spotted hyenas are the largest

Their habitat includes forest edges, grasslands, savannas, sub-deserts, and mountains up to 13,000 feet elevation

Hyenas are distributed across Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia

They have distinctive features: four-legged, scraggly fur, large ears, and long forelegs with a powerful neck and shoulders

Hyenas are proficient hunters with excellent sight, hearing, and smell, and are primarily nocturnal

Typically, hyenas live for about 12 years, but can reach up to 25 years. Brown hyenas generally have shorter lifespans

Spotted hyenas are of least concern, while brown and striped hyenas are near threatened as per IUCN

Conservation Status

A striped hyena, an endangered species, was found dead near a forest in Gajendragad, Karnataka

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