Government and African Parks to ecologically restore Majete Wildlife Reserve. When management was handed over to African Parks in 2003, only spotted hyena and a few antelope species were present in the reserve. Spotted hyena’s great adaptability to changing environments and the flexibility of their diet, together with local legends that made people fear hyenas, were probably the reasons for their survival as the only large remaining predator in the reserve.

False legends passed from one generation to another and the negative portrayal of hyenas by many a Hollywood director, has created fear and stimulated hatred towards the species in many Western and African societies, which is a major threat to the conservation of spotted hyena. In African folklore the spotted hyena is depicted as an ambivalent creature considered as fearsome, stupid and dangerous. Spotted hyena are also used in African rituals where West African masked dancers transform into similar looking creatures that have dirty habits and are used to create fear, which urges initiates to avoid such behaviour in life. Kujamaat hunters believe that when killing a hyena the carcass has to be treated as if human, as a precautionary measurement against the wicked spirit of the hyena. Through research it is possible to assist in conservation of the species, for example, research declared the long thought myth that, spotted hyena are only scavengers, as false.

Before management was handed over to Africa Parks, virtually nothing was known about hyenas other than that they were seemingly responsible for livestock losses. This occurred due to low natural prey densities inside the reserve and it resulted in at least two known attacks on villagers who were sleeping outside of their huts because of the summer heat. This created a high level of human-wildlife conflict where hyena were killed in retaliation. When Majete Wildlife Reserve was finally fenced in its entirety and numerous prey species were re-introduced, the conflict between an increasing human population and hyenas was reduced. The future of spotted hyena in Majete is more secure than ever before, however very little is known about the species primarily due to their nocturnal habits and conspicuous behaviour. After all the past conflict with humans we have no idea how many hyena clans are resident in the reserve. Our current, very preliminary estimate of population size, is around 30 adults, however this may well increase as we identify more individuals. In mid-2013, a wildlife research and monitoring program, led by Stellenbosch University in partnership with the Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources and African Parks, was initiated. In January 2014, a spotted hyena research project was launched which will continue through July 2015. This project, being undertaken by Francois Retief, aims to determine the population size, distribution and diet of hyena in the reserve.

Spotted hyena have the most complex social structure of all large carnivores which is actually more similar to primate social partitioning. Like baboons and macaques, for example, spotted hyenas form a group of unrelated individuals, called a clan, living co-operatively, however 75% of successful spotted hyena hunts are conducted alone. Clans are resident in what is called a communal den site, which may consist of drainage pipes/road culverts, old warthog burrows or holes which have been excavated by the hyenas themselves. The communal den site consists of a network of underground tunnels which are accessible by both cubs and adults. New born cubs weigh approximately 1 kg and unlike other carnivores, are born with their eyes open as well as with a set of canines. Cubs obtain a rank immediately below their mother which will determine their access to resources such as food. Rankings are normally stable for long periods of time, although changes may occur where daughters dominate aging mothers or after major fights where social coalitions between low ranking matrilines (matriarchal lineages) can overthrow smaller, higher ranked matrilines. Spotted hyenas are the only mammalian species on earth which are female dominated, where females are both stronger and more aggressive than males and are regarded as monomorphic even though females weigh more than males. Spotted hyena females also have a unique feature called a pseudo-penis which consists of an elongated clitoris that resembles the male genitalia both in form and size. This makes it very difficult for an untrained individual to sex the individuals. Most males leave their natal clans to become members of neighbouring clans at the onset of reproductive maturity (2-5 years of age) which allows for male-mediated gene flow amongst clans.
The primary ecological function of spotted hyena are to maintain the health and sustainability of ecosystems by preying on the weak and the sick. This reduces the spread of disease and healthy herbivore communities are maintained, both physically and genetically. The animals strong jaws and very effective digestive system enables them to utilize almost every part of their prey’s body, which recycles valuable nutrients in the ecosystem. Their role as an apex predator benefits ecosystems by displaying top-down control of both herbivores and mesopredators; which are smaller predators whose fitness is controlled by larger predators through exploitation and harassment. These predator-prey interactions with large carnivores have several consequences on ecosystem functioning by influencing behaviour strategies which in turn will influence forage and reproduction strategies of herbivores, which are capable of driving trophic cascades.
Spotted hyena are also a keystone species, meaning that they are able to reflect ecosystem health as hyena density is determined by prey density, thus reflecting the capability of an ecosystem to maintain a sufficient number of prey species. Unlike other large predators such as leopard and lion, spotted hyena do not seem to have a general preferred species of prey, although there seems to be a preference for prey within the weight range of 56-182 kg. Spotted hyena are capable of bringing down prey four times their size, with records of this species hunting fully grown Cape buffalo. Feeding is an extremely intensely competitive occasion as a 180 kg animal can be consumed within a remarkable 13 minutes.

Since 2013 camera traps have been placed at major waterholes and game trails within Majete. These are mounted on tress, for example, and they have a motion sensor which takes a photo when triggered. These data are then used to compare the unique spot pattern of each hyena which is then used to identify individuals. Scat samples are also being collected at latrines, which are areas where animals readily defecate to advertise their presence to neighbouring clans and to demarcate territories. Scat samples are analysed and hair follicles and bone fragments (when visible) of prey species are identified in order to determine diet.
Thus far we have identified two clans that are residing in the reserve. One clan is occupying the Eastern regions of Majete and the other the West. Currently, 19 adult and sub-adult individuals have been positively identified, but it is estimated that the total population is closer to 30 animals. Once additional funds have been sourced for satellite collars it is hoped that communal den sites will be easily located, as individuals return to the same site of an occupied den. This will then allow us to monitor the reproductive success of the species (number of cubs and cub survival) by using our non-invasive, motion triggered cameras.

Conservation Significance
This will be the first step towards understanding the ecology of MWR’s hyena and plans are to develop a long term monitoring programme. It is hoped that such a monitoring programme will provide valuable information concerning hyena population health and hyena influences upon prey and other competing species, such as lion and leopard, which relates to their keystone role. This would also be a first step towards understanding the intensity of interspecific competition between predators, particularly between the relatively newly re-introduced lions and leopards, and predator prey relationships in MWR, an essential part of any management strategy.
Hyenas deserve protection because, as previously mentioned, they perform valuable services in the ecosystems they inhabit. They are essential indicators of ecosystem health throughout much of their range as they can survive under conditions that no other carnivore can tolerate. Their disappearance from an ecosystem would therefore indicate that the habitat has become severely degraded. As a bone cracking species the spotted hyenas of Majete all facilitate energy transfer and cycling of nutrients between the biotic and abiotic components of the reserve. Additionally, the hyena of MWR are an important revenue for the reserve, not only to sustain tourism but to maintain ecological integrity because of their keystone nature.
This hyena research project is of significant value as conflict between neighbouring communities and hyena in the past was rife. This project will contribute towards resolving perceptions and myths of this key predator, as hyena are still largely seen as scavengers and killers of livestock by local communities. Hyena are part of the people’s heritage even though they might not realise it and the results of this research will contribute towards effective management of these predators in the reserve that will ensure their survival for many generations to come. This hyena ecological study is also a first for Malawi and it is hoped that this study will be a flagship study for further research in other areas of Malawi.