Legacy of the laughing hyena, Rafiki, lives on

A very special hyena, Rafiki, was the inspiration behind individuals and a handful of local companies in and around the area to launch Project Rafiki Hyena Conservation in 2015.

It is registered as a non-profit organisation and is part of the South African Wildlife Organisation. Chris Pearson sponsored camera traps and Brendan Swanevelder of Mpumalanga Printers in Lydenburg donated logbooks for the project. Garmin South Africa contributed global positioning systems. The conservation project members became aware of a 12-week-old spotted hyena cub in 2015.

Rafiki was saved from the illicit pet trade and the project was started with the help of the Klaserie Nature Conservation Branch.

“We immediately understood that there was a lot to learn about these magnificent creatures as we reared her. Rafiki was successfully rehabilitated into the wild in the SanWILD Wildlife Sanctuary area when she was almost two years old. At the time of Rafiki’s release, we were also able to successfully track and trace a spotted hyena female that was badly injured due to a snare around her neck in the Wild Rivers Conservation area in Hoedspruit. The items we need are donated by companies, and no financial contributions are made,” said Numandi Botes, the founder of Project Rafiki Hyena Conservation.

Botes said they are investigating the population size and behaviour of the Mabalingwe hyenas in Limpopo as part of a significant programme that will get under way in May.

“Our completed report will be delivered to the reserve and posted online by the South African Wildlife Association. We will then proceed to the Buffalo Kloof Conservancy in the Eastern Cape, where we’ll research the 20 000-hectare population of brown and spotted hyenas there. We are also awaiting our National Administration for the Conservation Areas permit for assisting the Maputo National Park in the relocation of four spotted hyenas early in 2024,” said Botes.

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All the data collected during research is logged onto the South African Wildlife Management Association’s webpage and shared with the relevant nature reserves involved. Equipment still needed for the conservation project includes uniforms, backpacks, handheld GPS for plotting dens and camera traps, rechargeable AA camera batteries for camera traps, two red filtered spotlights, photo memory cards for camera traps, a portable folding solar panel, a portable weather station, portable night vision, a comprehensive first aid box, two[1]way radios, one telescopic pruning shear, and a traction board for self-recovery during muddy conditions.

Should you wish to become part of this great conservation initiative, you can contact Botes at projectrafikiheyna@gmail. com or on 082 670 8581.