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hyaena translocation project

The capital city of Malawi (Lilongwe) has a healthy population of urban spotted hyaena. However, hyaenas are often maligned and suffer from a lack of understanding through a history of negative local myths and legends. This is often compounded when hyaenas come into close contact with humans such as in Lilongwe, where they are often feared.

In June 2014, CRM was contacted by the DNPW about increasing fear and conflict between local communities and a specific hyaena clan occupying the city. The clan was at high risk of being shot and CRM were asked to capture and relocate them to a National Park away from local communities.

In partnership with LWT, DNPW and Central African Wilderness Safaris, we captured a clan of four animals from Lilongwe and translocated them into Liwonde National Park in April 2015. The clan was fitted with tracking collars and the CRM research team have been monitoring their progress along side the existing hyaena clan in LNP, assessing spatial and social behaviour, clan interactions and survival.

To our great surprise, a couple of months later the alpha female of the clan returned to Lilongwe. After a 250 kilometre journey from Liwonde National Park, heading towards the Mozambiquan border, crossing the crocodile and hippo infested Shire river, Urban1 reappeared in her home territory.

You can read the full story here.

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