Skip to main content
Log in

Prey selection and prey preferences of spotted hyenas Crocuta crocuta in the Etosha National Park, Namibia

Ecological Research

Abstract

The feeding ecology of the spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta was studied in the central and eastern part of the Etosha National Park, Namibia. Hyenas mainly hunted migratory ungulates such as springbok Antidorcas marsupialis, zebra Equus burchelli, and blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus, but also resident species such as the greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros and gemsbok Oryx gazella. There were, however, major differences in the species most frequently killed by hyenas in central and eastern Etosha. The preferred prey species of spotted hyenas in central Etosha was springbok, whereas regarding the abundance of zebra and wildebeest, these two species were rather avoided. In contrast, the prey species preferred by hyenas in eastern Etosha was kudu. Zebra and gemsbok were taken in proportion to their abundance, whereas wildebeest and springbok seemed to be rather avoided. Differences in prey selection and preferences were also reflected in differences in hunting group sizes. In eastern Etosha, where spotted hyenas frequently hunted larger prey, hunting group sizes were significantly larger compared to those in the center of the park.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cooper SM (1990) The hunting behaviour of spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in a region containing both sedentary and migratory populations of herbivores. Afr J Zool 28:131–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper SM, Holecamp KE, Smale L (1999) A seasonal feast: long-term analysis of feeding behaviour in the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta). Afr J Ecol 37:149–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • di Silvestre I, Novelli O, Bogliani G (2000) Feeding habits of the spotted hyaena in the Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal. Afr J Ecol 38:102–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • East ML, Hofer H (2001) Male spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) queue for status in social groups dominated by females. Behav Ecol 12(5):558–568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frank LG (1986) Social organisation of the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta).I. Demography. Anim Behav 34:1500–1509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gasaway WC, Mossestad KT, Stander PE (1991) Food acquisition by spotted hyaenas in Etosha National Park, Namibia: predation versus scavenging. Afr J Ecol 29:64–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayward MW (2006) Prey preferences of the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) and degree of dietary overlap with the lion (Panthera leo). J Zool (Lond) 270:606–614

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayward MW, Kerley GIH (2005) Prey preferences of the lion (Panthera leo). J Zool (Lond) 267:309–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayward MW, Henschel P, O’Brien J, Hofmeyr M, Balme G, Kerley GIH (2006a) Prey preferences of the leopard (Panthera pardus). J Zool (Lond). doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.000139.x

  • Hayward MW, O’Brien J, Hofmeyr M, Kerley GIH (2006b) Prey preferences of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) (Felidae: Carnivora): morphological limitations or the need to capture rapidly consumable prey before Kleptoparasites arrive? J Zool (Lond). doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.000184.x

  • Hayward MW, O’Brien J, Hofmeyr M, Kerley GIH (2006c) Prey preferences of the African wild dog Lycaon pictus (Canidae: Carnivora): ecological requirements for conservation. J Mammal 87(6):1122–1131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henschel JR, Skinner JD (1991) Territorial behaviour by a clan of spotted hyenas Crocuta crocuta. Ethology 88:223–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henschel JR, Tilson RL (1988) How much does a spotted hyaena eat? Perspective from the Namib Desert. Afr J Ecol 26:247–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holekamp KE, Smale L, Berg R, Cooper SM (1997) Hunting rates and hunting success in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). J Zool (Lond) 242:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Höner OP, Wachter B, East ML, Hofer H (2002) The response of spotted hyaenas to long-term changes in prey populations: functional response and interspecific kleptoparasitism. J Anim Ecol 71:236–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs J (1974) Quantitative measurements of food selection–a modification of the forage ratio and Ivlev’s electivity index. Oecologia 14:413–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jolly GM (1969) Sampling methods for aerial censuses of wildlife populations. E Afr Agric For J 46–49

  • Kilian W, Kolberg H (2004) Aerial survey of Etosha National Park. Technical report of scientific services, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia

  • Kilian W, Kolberg H (2005) Aerial survey of Etosha National Park. Technical report of scientific services, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia

  • Kruuk H (1972) The spotted hyena: a study of predation and social behaviour. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Roux CJG, Grunow JO, Morris JW, Bredenkamp GJ, Scheepers JC (1988) A classification of the vegetation of the Etosha National Park. S Afr J Bot 54:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills MGL (1994) Kalahari hyenas: the comparative behavioural ecology of two species. Chapman & Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Pienaar U (1969) Predator prey relationships among the larger mammals of the Kruger National Park. Koedoe 12:108–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Sillero-Zubiri C, Gottelli D (1992) Feeding ecology of spotted hyaenas (Mammalia: Crocuta crocuta) in a mountain forest habitat. J Afr Ecol 30:292–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smithers RHN (1983) The mammals of the southern African sub-region. Pretoria: University of Pretoria, South Africa

  • Trinkel M (2003) Population ecology of the spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta in the Etosha National Park, Namibia. PhD Thesis, University of Graz, Austria

  • Trinkel M (2009) A keystone predator at risk? Density and distribution of the spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta in the Etosha National Park, Namibia. Can J Zool 87:928–935

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trinkel M, Kastberger G (2005) Competitive interactions between spotted hyenas and lions in the Etosha National Park, Namibia. Afr J Ecol 43:220–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trinkel M, Fleischmann PH, Steindorfer AF, Kastberger G (2004) Spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) follow migratory prey. Seasonal expansion of a clan territory in Etosha, Namibia. J Zool 264:125–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism for permission to conduct the study. The Austrian Academy of Science, the Vienna Zoo, the Namibian Nature Foundation and the University of Graz are thanked for financial support. M. Augumeb, N. Brian, W. Handley, F. Iifo, I. Kapofi, J. Kapner, W. Kilian, H. Kolberg, W. Kubeb, M. du Plessis, G. Shatumbo, W. Verfeld performed the aerial survey. G. Kastberger and all the staff members of the Etosha National Park, in particular N. Berriman, T. and A. Burger, C. and W. duPlessis, P. Erb, C. Eyre, C. Grobler, W. Killian, B. and S. Kötting, J. LeRoux, T. Stolz, and W. Versfeld are thanked for information, assistance, and advice.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martina Trinkel.

About this article

Cite this article

Trinkel, M. Prey selection and prey preferences of spotted hyenas Crocuta crocuta in the Etosha National Park, Namibia. Ecol Res 25, 413–417 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-009-0669-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-009-0669-3

Keywords

Navigation