Preliminary notes on a coastal population of Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena (Linnaeus, 1758) from Chilika lagoon, India

Abstract

The Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena (Linnaeus, 1758), India’s only hyaena species, is a solitary scavenging carnivore. It typically thrives in arid and semi-arid regions. Limited documentation exists on its occurrence along the Indian eastern coast – the easternmost limit of the Striped Hyena’s global distribution range. Information on the Striped Hyena’s presence along Chilika’s sandy coastline was received during Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus (Bennett, 1833) focused interview surveys which encouraged this study. We used camera-traps, night surveys on foot (for direct sightings), and day-time surveys to examine animal remains near hyena denning sites in locations with reported hyena sightings. We documented a group of three individuals (plausibly a mother and cubs) during consecutive nights. We also collected data on its natural history and ecology, for example, behaviour, diet, co-scavengers, and sympatric species. Golden Jackal Canis aureus (Linnaeus, 1758), feral dogs, and Wild Boars Sus scrofa (Linnaeus, 1758) were found to be co-scavengers. Camera-trap videos and direct sightings revealed that the hyena took refuge inside Pandanus sp. foliage (a mangrove associate) in the Chilika landscape. We found den sites with animal remains, including bones that were tentatively identified as Bovidae and Suidae families. Triangulated by observations from the field and videos from camera traps, these could belong to feral cows, and wild boars. A turtle carapace piece was also detected. Furthermore, local fishermen reported that hyena scavenge on fish remains in fishing nets, Olive Ridley carcasses, and lifts newborn cattle. Residents reportedly killed hyenas misperceiving them as ‘child-lifters’. We recommend detailed investigation of the ecology of this coastal population of the Striped Hyena, especially its diet, and urgent adoption of conservation programs.