Brown Hyena (Parahyaena brunnea)

Overview
The elusive brown hyena is a shaggy, nocturnal scavenger native to southern Africa. Recognizable by its dark brown coat, long cream-colored mane, and striped legs, it stands about 80 cm tall at the shoulder and weighs around 40 kg. Its pointed ears and white neck give it a distinct, ghost-like appearance in the wild.

Adapted Scavenger
Primarily a scavenger, the brown hyena feeds on carcasses left by other predators, cracking open large bones to reach the marrow inside. It also supplements its diet with insects, bird eggs, wild fruits, and occasionally small prey.

Behaviour & Reproduction
Brown hyenas are solitary foragers but live in small clans that defend shared territory. Females give birth to 1–4 cubs after a 90-day gestation, raising them in dens for up to 18 months. Cubs begin eating meat from around 3 months but nurse for over a year.

Habitat & Range
Found across South Africa’s savannas, grasslands, semi-deserts, and coastal zones, they’re especially common along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. They often rest during the day in thick bush or abandoned burrows and avoid areas with spotted hyenas.

Shy yet resourceful, the brown hyena plays a vital role in the ecosystem by cleaning up carcasses and recycling nutrients back into the wild.