Is the Striped Hyena endangered?
Endangered Animals in Europe
Description
The Striped Hyena can be classified as a mammal, scavenger, and carnivore.Striped Hyena's are covered in long, black striped, beige or pale-grey hair. Their hair has the ability to erect for an intimidating appearance. The average height of the Striped Hyena is 100-120 feet tall, and they approximately 22-55 kilograms. (Ark) (Photo Credit:M Kuhn on Flickr)
Photo Credit: Abhijith B. Rao on Flickr
Photo Credit:Arno Meintjes Wildlife
Photo Credit:Martijn.Munneke
Food Chain
The hyena devours small animals, such as insects, rodents, birds, rabbits, and also carrion. They find most prey in the grasslands. They are nocturnal and hunt only at night. Hyenas are believed to be scavengers (animals that feed on dead flesh), but they are also carnivores. The Striped Hyena has no serious threats in the wild but the major reason for the descending amount of hyena's is humans. (Ark)
Habitat
The Striped Hyena typically lives in dry areas, such as savannahs and deserts. Earlier, the majority of hyenas lived In Britain and China, but currently most are residing in Africa, the Middle East, and India. This species of hyena, prefers to live near tall grass in a dry and humid climate. Based on the hyena's location, the fur color varies, to help it blend in with its surroundings. (Ark)
Adaptation
All hyenas have impressive molars to help them devour the bodies of their prey. They also have long tongues to make it easier to lick ants off of trees. The Striped Hyena has fur that can easily erect, making them appear larger, to intimidate the enemy. When in serious danger the striped hyena will pretend it's dead. Their paws are thickly padded to help them while they're running. The Striped Hyena has one of the most obnoxious, yet interesting ways of communicating, they are able to communicate through a series of loud howls that mimic the sounds of human laughter. (Ark)
Conservation
The major cause of the Striped Hyena's endangerment, is false human superstitions. Many farmers shoot hyenas based on the fear that they will devour their live stock and ruin their harvest, and in general, most people do not have a positive outlook on the Hyena species overall, because of misleading facts (The Lion King). There are now conservation grounds for hyenas to live safely on. The Hyaena Specialist Group has also established a Conservation Action Plan to help preserve the unique hyena species. One way you can help save the Striped Hyena is to donate to a hyena conservation fund and help educate others on what a beautiful creature the Hyena really is. (Ark) (Photo Credit:Lee J. Haywood on Flickr)