Brown Hyena

[Flutterby]

Hyena spotted in Delta park

26 SEP 2013 07:41 GRETHE KOEN

Twitter has been ablaze with claims that a hyena has been spotted in the Delta Park-Blairgowrie region of Johannesburg.
The hyena was last seen at the Randburg Civic Centre. (via @brenttheplanner)
Twitter erupted on Thursday morning with tweets claiming that a brown hyena was spotted first in Northcliff, then in the Delta Park and Blairgowrie suburbs of Randburg, Johannesburg.

"Listener just called in saying a hyena spotted this morning in Northcliff!" Tweeted Talk Radio 702 host John Robbie.

According to Jacaranda FM's Twitter newstream, the SPCA are investigating the claims.

Conservationist and former game ranger John de Jager said that spotted hyenas travel in packs, while brown hyenas are usually solitary and quite rare to see.

"I have only spotted one brown hyena in my five years as a game ranger," Said De Jager.

There is no confirmation yet that the animal is in fact a hyena, but a flurry of tweets soon made the word "hyena" start trending.



The latest on twitter:
"The hyena that was spotted running loose in the Johannesburg suburb of Blairgowrie was darted by the Johannesburg Zoo and SPCA." (John Robbie, Twitter)

[Twigga]

So glad the story had a happy ending

Where's Heksie? No need to visit Kruger to see a Brownie!

[Flutterby]

Yep, we've got them right in our backyard!!

[nan]

coming from..... the zoo

indeed... in the garden like birds

[Flutterby]

Juno, the brown hyena of the suburbs


By now I'm sure you've all heard of the famous Juno! The young brown hyaena female that was found running through the streets of the suburbs of Johannesburg. It was all over the news and even made it to international news! Citizens were very excited and some even confused. Wild animals in our streets?! It must be because we live on such a special continent where conservation plays such an important role in all our lives, it concerns us all!

I have often felt like 'Africa' runs in the veins of all that is born on this amazing continent. It is the one thing that unites all that live here. It even happens that foreigners come here and after their first African sunset, 'Africa' creeps deep into their hearts. I am surely proud to be African!

The best is that sometimes, even in a world class city, some of its very rare and shy citizens reveals themselves, like Juno, the hyaena.

The Johannesburg Zoo medical team, together with the NSPCA, Free Me and hyaena specialist Dr Brian Kuhn went to fetch the hyaena as she supposedly lost her clan (which is believed to come from a reserve right on the periphery of the city) and found herself running around Joburg trying to find her way back.

Dr Kuhn is currently running a research project called: Urban Hyaena Research Project
The aim of the project is to establish the presence of hyaenas living around the city, which he does by setting up camera traps around the periphery of the city in reserves etc. The next step would be to capture some of these animals and to fit them with a satellite collar to track their movements. This is all part of a huge research project that is geared toward conservation of this species. The details of which I know very little of. The bottom line is that this project needs the help of any person willing to contribute towards the collars. The price of a collar with its software comes to approximately R 50 000 of which the NSPCA have donated R10 000 so far.

To get more info or to donate, email:

urbanhyaenaresearch@gmail.com

Free Me Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is also campaigning for funding for a satellite collar and can be contacted regarding contributions and information.

http://www.freemewildlife.org.za

The photographs that follow are of Juno's health examination. Dr Brett Gardner, associate veterinarian of the zoo, tranquillised Juno to check up on her injuries she got whilst trotting through the suburbs. Her paws were not designed to run on tarmac and her paw cushions were raw from running on the rough surface. So, before she can be set free, Dr. Gardner and his team is treating her back to health at the zoo. Minimal human contact is allowed to avoid her to imprint on human beings.

[Sprocky]

2013-12-19 16:57

Johannesburg - Juno, the brown hyena who was rescued in Blairgowrie, Johannesburg, in September, is one step closer to her return to the wild after she was moved to a pre-release boma at a wildlife reserve in the North West Province this week, the NSPCA said on Thursday.

"The young hyena has responded well to treatment and has fully recovered from her injuries, which included damaged foot pads caused by running on paved roads outside of her natural environment."

It is believed that Juno had become separated from her clan and accidentally wandered into a built-up area.

Attempts were made to locate her family since her capture, but due to all the attention, the clan had moved its den site and could not be located.

"It was therefore decided that it would be better for her to go into a safe environment on a reserve with other brown hyenas", said the NSPCA.

Juno has been recuperating at the Johannesburg Zoo.

The Urban Hyena Research Project will help monitor Juno after her release into the wild. The project is also aimed at helping other wild hyenas that inadvertently wander into urban areas and need protection from the public or assistance to find their way home.

"The pre-release boma is an ideal setting for the hyena, and will help to prepare her for a permanent home back in the wild, when she is ready."

The additional time to rest, grow, adjust and acclimatise to the new environment will help her to increase her chances of survival upon her release.

Despite the past few months spent in captivity, Juno retained her fear of humans and was treated for minor scratches picked up during the capture and relocation.

“The reserve is a typical habitat for a hyena; it is in a natural environment, familiar terrain, filled with smells and sounds from the wild.

"She will be able to see other wild animals through the fence but she will remain safe from threats until she is big enough for release,” says Isabel Wentzel of the Wildlife Protection Unit at the NSPCA.

“She will also be under constant monitoring remotely, so she will have minimal human contact, which is crucial to her success. Human contact and disturbance are extremely stressful for a wild animal.”

“We are happy that she will be released into the wild. She never settled in captivity and was very stressed around people.

"This will give her the opportunity to be back with her own kind in a safe environment. She settled right into her new temporary enclosure,” said Dr Katja Koeppel of the Johannesburg Zoo.

It is hoped that Juno will join another wild clan on her release, or start her own.


- News24

[nan]

good luck Juno

[Flutterby]

[Lisbeth]

Grootkolk - KTP - 2017

[okie]

Johannesburg is now a desert