I find it almost beyond belief that only a single UK collection holds any of the (true) hyaena species.
Couldn't agree more, it is very poor. I was very disappointed when Africa Alive traded theirs in for hunting dogs, which are common in the UK ( if not so common in the wild) !
Oh, indeed - especially when, as noted, a few short years ago we had the full set of hyena species in the UK.
There are a pair of aardwolves at a private collection called Park Exotics 'https://www.facebook.com/Park-Cottage-Conservation-267812269961952/' I believe from the old RSCC And there a pair of spotted hyenas held at Leopard and Goat Farm in Cornwall
According to a trusted source - One of the Aardwolfs passed away recently - Subsequently, the remaining individual was sold to Hemsley conservation centre .
Yes just seen them listed on Zootierliste, I've asked them both to confirm! Great to have another on show in the UK
La Teste in France has both Syrian striped hyenas and Spotted hyenas. Amnéville and Frejus as well (although non-subspecific striped hyenas in these cases). There should be more with both species.
I've been looking through issues of the Belfast City Council's magazine City Matters (which often has a page on the zoo), and in the September-Novmeber 2016 issue, it actually says that Belfast's male striped hyena came from Lodz zoo. I've provided a link to the issue on the council's website. City Matters – September to November 2016 - Belfast City Council What made you think he came from Neunkirchen, Nisha?
Apologies - I think I got confused. The female was born at another German zoo and returned to the original zoo when Belfast went out of them. I must have confused her with the male
Personally, I'm someone who is happier when zoos focus on species that are more threatened in the wild, even if commoner ex situ, because I think the conservation function of zoos is important enough to sacrifice (unfortunately) a little bit of diversity. So, as you pointed out, an increase in African wild dog programs - which I'll admit I have named myself after - is welcome to me. But I'm also a huge hyena lover, so I do find it bittersweet. AND I think about the current status of striped hyenas in the wild - IUCN Near Threatened, which is at par with white rhinos, maned wolves, jaguars and several other species that zoos work on all the time. There's also a fair number of striped hyenas in zoos across India and the Middle East, so it shouldn't be hard for UK/US institutions to start programs. Also, I feel sometimes that striped hyenas aren't doing as well as we think in the wild - admittedly from 100% anecdotal amateur evidence. Hyenas have gone extinct in a few spots here in India in the last few years. Apparently, there is an IUCN assessment now - we can see how that goes and maybe the findings will spark more conservation interest in the species? An initiative to save the striped hyenas of India
