Striped Hyena
Introduction
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Indian striped Hyenas are smallest among the other species of Hyenas.
It belongs to the class Mammalia and is from the family of Hyaenidae. Its genus is specified as Hyaena and order Carnivora. It is scientifically called as Hyaena hyaena.
Kingdom | Animalia |
SPhylum | Chordata |
Class | Mammalia |
Order | Carnivora |
Family | Hyaenidae |
Genus | Hyaena |
Species | Hyaena hyaena |
Physical structure
Indian Striped hyenas have a brownish and grayish skin sheet called as fur covered over its body. Blackish shaded thick stripes are similar to stripes seen in a wild zebra and these are found in its legs, head and back, and in its torso which gives rise to the long fore limbs and short hind legs, that shows the torso in a slanting slope direction.![Indian Striped Hyenas](images/indianstripedhyenas.jpg)
Its ears and muzzles are totally black, the ears even radiate heat as it is one of the climatic adaptable animal. It also has a smaller mane at its neck and top of its torso, which straightens whenever it starts threatening. The tail having a feathery look measures upto 20 cms and reaches the hooks.
The average weight of Indian striped Hyenas ranges from 30 to 40 kgs. They usually grow upto a height of 4 to 5 feet and its shoulder height may vary from 66 to 75 cm. The wild striped hyenas have a usual life span of 10 to 12 years and that may extend from 20 to 25 years if it is under captivity.
Distribution and Habitat
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Indian Striped hyenas are naturally found in the tropical regions, grasslands,woodlands and dense forests.
They are usually found in the seashores and also in forests. Striped hyenas are cave animals where they sleep in the morning in caves and burrows.
They are mainly considered to be solitary in nature and also they are found in small family groups. Indian striped Hyenas mainly wander in the night time and search for their food and hence are seen rarely during the day time.
Places found
![Ranthambore Tiger Reserve - Rajasthan](images/hyena-ranthambore.jpg)
![Eco Resort - Mohda - Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary](images/hyena-park.jpg)
Wildlife comprises of a lengthy list of animal and species, majorly it comprises of Striped Hyena, Tigers, Monkey, Sloth Bear, Chinkara, Flying Squirrels, Jackals, Porcupine, Leopards, Black Buck, Jungle Cat, Four-horned Antelopes, Barking Deer, Bison, Wild Dogs and many more.
![Royal Tiger Resort - Bandhavgarh National Park](images/royaltiger.jpg)
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Sariska Tiger Reserve:The Sariska Tiger Reserve is a national park in India located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan.
The park is situated at a distance of 107 km from Jaipur and 200 km from Delhi. This area was a hunting reserve and it was declared a wildlife reserve in 1955. In 1978, the park was given the rank of a tiger reserve making it a part of India's Project Tiger system. The current area of the park is 866 kms. Most commonly spotted carnivores here are leopard, Bengal tiger, wild jackal, wild dog, sambhar, chital, hyena, wild cat, nilgai, wild boar, etc.
Gir National Park: The Gir National Park is situated in Gujarat with an area of 120 square-miles with rich flora and habitat. Primarily, it is the home for Lions and has the largest leopard population compared to other national parks in India. Leopards can be seen at the border of the park during the summer seasons. Other Wildlife here includes Sambar deer, Chital, Jackal, Hyena, and Langur Monkeys. Jeep safari is conducted in order to view all the wildlife at Gir National park.
![Jim Corbett National Park](images/jimcorbett.jpg)
![Kanha National Park - Mandla](images/kanhanational.jpg)
Food Habits
Indian hyenas are mainly carnivorous wild animals and they usually eat small animals like sheep, donkeys, rabbits, insects, rodents, birds and lizards as well. Carrions are the main part of feeding for the striped Hyenas. Also in some instances they do have fruits as their diet.Mating behavior
Indian striped Hyenas do not have a specific season to mate. Hyenas mate during the day time and the male hyena grips the female Hyena's neck at that time.Page 4 of 5
The gestation period extends to a period of 3 months, and the number of cubs given birth may vary from 1 to 5, and they are born in dens.
The new born cubs have closed eyes, ears are small and have adult markings as per their gene to which it may belong. After a week span their eyes open and get together with its mother.
A time span of about two to four months is applicable for the young ones to get weaned from its mother. In about six months, the young ones start moving out with its mother, on its own. About 2 to 3 years are required for the young ones to reach its sexual maturity.
Subspecies of Striped Hyena
Striped Hyenas are said to have five subspecies according to their region to which they belong,SCIENTIFC NAME | REGION |
Hyaena hyaena hyaena | India |
Hyaena hyaena syriaca | Middle East |
Hyaena hyaena sultana | Arabian Peninsula |
Hyaena hyaena dubbah | North East Africa |
Hyaena hyaena Barbara | North West Africa |
Population of Striped Hyenas in India
![Indian Striped Heyna Cubs](images/hyena-population.jpg)
Threats to Indian Hyena
![Indian Striped Hyena - Threats](images/stripedhyena-threa.jpg)
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Competition with other predators
Indian striped hyenas have some wild predators apart from Human predators.
Gray wolf is one among it and the conflict will be due to the food stocks of gray wolf shared by the hyenas.
Since the Indian striped Hyenas are known to be scavenging on the dead stocks from other wild animals like tiger, leopard etc. Foxes are the competing predators for striped Hyenas. At some instants foxes that are not in alert nature are hunt down by striped hyenas.
Poaching
Poaching of Indian striped hyenas has been increasing by the Humans, due to the conflicts between Human and Hyenas. Also there exists a belief that different parts of striped Hyenas are good for some cure, and poaching the same, could be one among the reason for it.Conservation effort in India
![Indian Striped Heyna - Conservation](images/heyna.jpg)
Hyena as a symbol in various religions
Striped hyenas are called as 'dhubba' in Arabic regions, has been alluded in a valley called 'Shaqq-ud-Diba' means 'cleft of hyenas' and another called 'Wadi-Abu-Diba' which means 'Valley of hyenas'.Interesting Facts
• Being a scavenger, striped Hyenas are able to crush even long bones and swallow the same. Adult and well grown striped Hyenas can even challenge a leopard and win its race to attack furiously.• Indian striped hyenas are similar in look as aardvarks. The manes available in its back straightens and becomes larger in size to show up itself as a dangerous animal to its predators, and can be dangerous too. Most of the time striped female Hyenas give birth to its cubs in dens and sometimes that may be in caves, burrows occupied by porcupines and aardvarks.