Juno safe and sound

On 26 September residents and motorists were shocked when they spotted a brown hyena that had lost its way in the Randburg Central Business District. Although it is unclear where the hyena came from, the wild animal had been seen wandering in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg for several days.

The animal was finally cornered in Blairgowrie where inspector Wendy Willson of the National council for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) Wildlife Protection Unit was instrumental in ensuring the safe capture of the juvenile hyena.

Willson said, “The animal’s life was considered to have been at risk as she was in an area with high traffic volumes. Public interest had led to her being tracked to the point that she was being chased.”

The female hyena, estimated to be around six months old is suspected to be the same hyena seen recently in the Constantia Kloof area. The hyena was taken to the Johannesburg Zoo for veterinary attention and recuperation. She has been named Juno.

“An initial assessment was that she was tired, stressed and had worn down the pads on her paws due to the extent of her running in a built-up area. She is recovering well, but will be kept at the zoo until a suitable release site can be found. Funding also needs to be sourced for a satellite collar to fit to her so that her post-release movements can be monitored,” explained Willson.

A few facts on brown hyenas;

lBrown hyenas have been occasionally sighted in suburbia for many years. There was a hyena shot in Allen’s Nek in Roodepoort over 20 years ago and one was caught near Gilooleys Interchange more than 15 years ago.

lThey are scavengers and eat mostly carrion. They will also eat eggs, fruit, insects and small mammals such as rodents.

lThey do not pose a threat to humans or pets as they are shy and elusive.

lThey live in small clans but forage alone and can move up to 60km in one evening in search of food.

lThey can exist in an urban environment and go undetected for long periods of time.

lBrown hyenas are classified as near-threatened, are protected by law and permits are required to trap, handle, transport or destroy them. Key threats to their survival include; killing due to the fact that they are regarded as problem animals, traditional medicine trade and poisoning.

*Special thanks to NSPCA inspector Wendy Willson and the Blairgowrie Community Association for providing photographs.