Title:

Brown hyaena feeding ecology on Namibian farmlands

Publication Year:
2013
Abstract:

We identified the diet of brown hyaenas (Hyaena brunnea) on the farmlands of north-central Namibia based on scat analysis, den site orts, and evidence of scavenging at leopard (Panthera pardus) kills. In the absence of larger carnivores, which have been credited with providing larger food items for brown hyaenas elsewhere, we compared interspecific dietary overlap and activity patterns with the remaining large carnivores, leopards and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Where hyaenas and leopards were sympatric, diets of both nocturnal species (n = 212 hyaena scats and 41 leopard scats) were quite similar (both >89% wild, with some domestic ungulates), and only somewhat different from cheetahs in a previous study. Additionally, evidence of brown hyaena scavenging was found at 76% of 29 leopard kills available to them.Brown hyaenas occurring on Namibian farmlands likely find medium-sized to large ungulate prey by scavenging from leopards and perhaps cheetahs. Keywords: Acinonyx, Cheetah, Food, Hyaena brunnea, Kills, Leopard, Orts, Panthera pardus, scats.

Publication Title:

South African Journal of Wildlife Research

Volume:
43
Issue:
1
Pages:
27-32
Item Type:
Journal Article
Language:
en

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