Spotted hyena – Help for the „Environmental police“

The last remaining savannah areas in the Congo Basin were still an important retreat area for spotted hyenas in Central Africa a few decades ago. But all known Spotted Hyena populations have disappeared within a short period of time – except for one in the Odzala Kokoua National

Park. Located in the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo they are a population only recently discovered in the southeast of Gabon. Hyenas are scavengers and take an important function as a kind of „Health police“: not only for the preservation of the ecosystem, but for human beings too. More

Torsten Bohm, doctoral candidate at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wild Animal Research (IZW), is active there as part of his doctorate in cooperation with SAVE and with intense support from the IZW for the hyenas project. Among other things the comprehensive research contains the so-called „Camera trap,“ as well as population genetic studies which shall safeguard the survival of the hyenas in Congo and in the Gabon. More

GZFA – Patron of the SAVE Spotted Hyena Project

Also on behalf of our researcher and cooperating organizations, we take this opportunity to thank the association for Dental Health, Functioning and Aesthetics (GZFA) for their dedication to the benefit of the last remaining spotted hyenas in the Congo Basin.

SAVE’s methodology for protecting wildlife

  • Genetic studies: genetic data collection to determine the genetic diversity in populations, detecting of inbreeding and whether an exchange of cross breading takes place between the populations (which is very important to not let inbreeding arise in the individual populations).
  • Field Research: Examination of fecal samples to determine the nutritional spectrum, considering the hunting behavior and social behavior, determination of population size and population spread, identification of potential hazards such as diseases, bush fires and poaching (GPS data via satellite collars, traces, observations, monitoring, etc.)
  • Using camera traps to keep up-to-date numbers of population size’s and track differences in different groups. Interviews with local people to identify exactly the conflict between man and predators, to find solutions so that both can live peacefully side by side in the future
  • Support for an open dialogue with local communities focusing on education and Capacity Development. Educational work

SAVE needs your donations for

  • Technical equipment: Radio collars, GPS equipment, field glasses, and computers (hardware & software)
  • Communications: Satellite telephone and radio equipment, Internet
  • Use of leading field researchers, experienced assistants, and local trackers
  • Veterinary care of animals
  • Camera traps, safety boxes and steel locks to protect the camera traps from theft/vandalism by humans and destruction by animals (especially elephants)
  • Laboratory testing of fecal samples
  • Fuel for the vehicles, repairs of cross-country vehicles
  • Educational materials, such as Flyers, information brochures, etc.
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