Striped hyena
(Hyaena hyaena)
EEP Coordinator: Frédéric Houssaye, Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche Zoologiques Augeron - CERZA
EEP page - Striped hyena
What are the EEP roles?
| Conservation Education (in range) |
| Research (taxonomy) |
| The perception of striped hyenas (and hyenas in general) is mainly negative and related to livestock conflict issues. Education is the primary tool to counter this negative perception around the species - to increase understanding of their role in the ecosystem and their relationship with other carnivores. Education can help people perceive them as worth protecting and can help make carnivore conservation funding available to hyenas. |
| The taxonomy of both in situ and ex situ populations needs more clarification to help conservation planning. Zoos can contribute with samples, expertise and resources for genetic testing. |
| Research (species biology) |
| Conservation Education (outside range) |
| Funding in situ support |
| General knowledge about the species biology is still very limited. Zoos can help building it up, and support ongoing research projects (staff funding for e.g.) in range countries. Even small contributions are much valuable. |
| The perception of hyenas in general is negative and zoos can play an important role in educating visitors about these carnivores and their role in ecosystems. To improve their image, it is required that zoos exhibit them in attractive, well enriched, and educational enclosures. |
| In situ projects that target local declining (threatened) striped hyena populations can benefit from the financial support of EEP participants. |
EEP in numbers
In June 2025, the Striped hyena EEP included:
- 90 animals
- in 40 institutions.
Programme highlights
- The EAZA Canid and Hyaenid TAG has a closed Facebook group where staff of EAZA Member institutions can discuss and find information about the species under the TAG.
- EAZA members La Barben and CERZA are supporting an in situ project with two aims, the first aim being to assess the status of striped hyena in Tajikistan and give an update to the IUCN HSG, adnd the second to improve the knowledge of striped hyena ecology and population in Tajikistan. You can read more here.
