Hyenas in Addis Ababa

I'm a huge fan of the hyena and think they are a wonderful animal. One of Africa's most successful predators, perfectly adapted to long pursuit hunting and total utilisation of their prey. They kill the old and sick grazers, helping to maintain the health of herding animals and clean up dead carcasses across Africa greatly benefiting the ecosystem. 

Hyenas offer wonderful game viewing opportunities for travelers and are a very challenging and unique game animal for hunt the hunter willing to put in the effort.  I have been fortunate to hunt the Spotted Hyena and the Brown Hyena and have had success with both species; the Striped Hyena is not easily available to the hunter. 

You can read Part I of my hyena hunting exploits by clicking the link below. Part II is a "work in progress" and will be online soon. http://huntingafricasbiggame.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/hunting-hyena-part-i.html

The latest issue of African Indaba has an article by Ludwig Siege titled "Hyenas in Addis Ababa".  Another example of the human animal conflict that can arise in fringe areas across Africa where humans and wild animals must co-exist.  This article relates to hyena in Ethipoia's capital city, Addis Ababa. To view the current African Indaba issue in full click on this link http://www.africanindaba.co.za/Archive12/AfricanIndabaVol10-2.pdf 

African Indaba is a publication of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) that is dedicated to the people and wildlife of Africa.Following is an excerpt from the current issue:

"Following incidents of Hyena attacks on humans in Addis Ababa in recent weeks, during which a baby was taken and killed, the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) organized a hyena cull in the city. On December 10th EWCA-appointed hunters destroyed 10 spotted hyenas in an area right in the city center, close to the main river crossing the town. The carcasses were disposed of by the Addis Ababa police.

Why hyenas started man-eating is not known. Hyenas are known as scavengers, but they also hunt. There are large populations of hyenas, and possibly also leopards, living in and around Addis Ababa. Estimates range from 300 to 1000. The wildlife Authority has reports from seven sites with dens in or close to the city center.

Hyenas remove animal carcasses from the streets of Addis and keep the burgeoning stray dog population at bay, so they also play a positive role in the city. There is a joke going around in Addis that the city council should pay the hyenas for keeping the city clean!"