Brown hyena population stable in Tsau //Khaeb National Park, research highlights conservation challenges

The brown hyena population in the Tsau //Khaeb National Park has remained stable since 1997, with an estimated 200 to 300 individuals, according to the Brown Hyena Research Project. This stability is attributed to successful breeding and low human disturbance within the park. On-site researcher Marie Lemerle notes that exact numbers are challenging to determine, but densities are higher near the coast. Brown hyenas travel long distances along Namibia’s coastline, up to 90km daily, to find food, often visiting Cape fur seal colonies. Maintaining open wildlife corridors is crucial for their survival, as fences and busy roads could disrupt their movements. The project, supported by Namdeb and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, uses GPS tracking collars, camera traps, and genetic sampling to study their behavior, ecology, and movements. Research has focused on areas like Baker’s Bay, Elizabeth Bay, and inland regions such as Karingarab. At Elizabeth Bay, hyenas have adapted by using abandoned mining infrastructure as dens. Researchers at Baker’s Bay observed different hyena clans visiting seal colonies at varying times, and documented a female brown hyena specializing in hunting adult seals, a first recorded instance of a brown hyena regularly taking prey larger than itself. The project collaborates with international researchers and the University of Namibia on genetic studies and heavy metal contamination. Lemerle emphasizes that a major conservation challenge is the lack