A Rare Find, A Rare Species of Hyena

BROWN HYENA Bruin hiëna — hyaena brunnea

The brown hyena occurs in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa. It is currently the rarest type of hyena species. There is little difference in the size and appearance of the sexes. The brown hyena's social hierarchy can be compared to that of wolves, and there is a male alpha and a female alpha. Each hyena typically hunts on its own, and they don't stake off a territory but keep to usual hunting routes. Emigration from one group to another is common, especially among young male hyenas. A litter can yield one to five cubs, which remain in their den for up to 14 months. Brown hyenas are mainly scavengers who feed on carcasses caught by larger animals. Their diet is supplemented with insects, eggs, fruits, fungi (the desert !abbas — kalaharituber pfeilii) and rodents. In the Kalahari, springhares, springbuck lambs, bat-eared foxes and korhaan account for only 4.2% of their diet, while on the Namibian coast a mere 2.9% of their total intake consists of fur seal cubs.

Chasing Crows

BLACK CROW | CAPE CROW Swartkraai — Corvus capensis

There are two separate crow populations — one in East Africa and the other in southern Africa. In the south of Africa, it is common in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, but mostly absent in Mozambique. The crow prefers open habitats with scattered trees, such as grasslands, as well as semi-dry areas, shrub fields, alien plantations and cultivated fields.

Jackal of Namibia

BLACK-BACKED JACKAL Swartrug-Jakkals - canis mesomelas

Wolves, jackals and foxes all belong to the same Canadae family but are divided into two categories. Wolves and jackal are part of the dog-like canids known as Canini, where foxes form part of the Vulpini genus. Jackals seem to have a more elongated snout and body compared to a fox. There are around 37 species of foxes in the world and only 3 species of jackal located in the dry areas of Asia and Africa.

The Black-Backed Jackal in Africa, also known as the Red Jackal, are spread out in two groups 900km from one another. One of the two areas is in the southern part of Africa, where the Red Jackal can be found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. The other area is next to the east coast of Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia.

The Black-Backed Jackal is a very ancient species compared to their other fellow Canis members, and have hardly evolved since the Pleistocene. The Black-Backed Jackal usually does not live in small family groups like foxes but prefer to live in pairs. Jackals do, however, often hunt in a pack to go after and catch larger prey like impala and antelope. They are territorial animals; every pair dominates a permanent section of land. They are mainly nocturnal animals but also live out their days in the sunlight.

The Black-Backed Jackal is not a fussy eater and will adapt their diet according to the availability of interspecific competition. They usually hunt small to medium-sized mammals (like rats, hares and young hooved animals), reptiles and birds. Other sources of food include invertebrates, plants, fish and beached sea-mammals.

Captured by: DANIE FERREIRA www.danieferreira.com