Spotted Hyena hunting in Namibia

Spotted Hyenas are mostly nocturnal predators. Both Spotted and Brown Hyenas occur in Namibia. The tendency however seems to be that Spotted Hyena numbers are greatest in areas with higher densities of game, like the protected areas of the north-eastern, north-central eastern and western regions. Living in clans these animals can become very successful hunters in their own right. The Southern Namib Desert clan once became very successful feral Namib horse killers until man intervened by removing the alpha female from the clan. The predation rate on these horses is influenced by the availability of other prey in the area. The best hunting areas for Spotted Hyenas are the privately owned farms surrounding Etosha National Park and the other protected areas found in the Caprivi. Spotted Hyena are widely distributed throughout sub Saharan Africa and classified by the IUCN as a species of least concern. No special hunting permits are required other than a prearranged Namibian predator license.