Spatial modeling of road collisions of striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) in Israel

Abstract

The striped hyena is an enigmatic species that is little studied. It is mainly found in semiarid and arid regions and is described as elusive, cryptic, nocturnal, and solitary. The global distribution is disjunct, and the species suffers from human persecution. However, specific communities consider them to be commensals. Owing to their scavenging behavior, striped hyenas are disproportionately involved in vehicular‐wildlife incidents, most of which are fatal. By combining data collected by the Scientific Data Department of the Israel Nature Parks Authority with information from remote sensing imaging, we illustrate the distribution of the striped hyena, identify critical habitats in which they occur, and illustrate the zones with the highest conflicts in the whole of Israel and the West Bank. The scale of striped hyena mortality (44.3/year) suggests that populations are much higher than previous estimates. We found more striped hyena carcasses on road/highway networks and urban areas than in natural surroundings. Our results should help focus the efforts to mitigate wildlife road kills by implementing conservation measures in urban areas and inter‐city highways, with a stress on striped hyena mortality.

Alloparenting by Helpers in Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena)

“…Additionally, variations in the environment and population density are known to influence reproductive output [ 35 ]. Populations of striped hyenas in Israel have shown a marked increase along with exploitation of human resources [ 26 , 27 , 28 ], which could also influence reproductive output and breeding strategies.…”

“…In our ongoing study of striped hyenas [26][27][28] in the Judea region and the lower Judean hills between 1993-1995 and 2006-2023 (Table 1), we have observed and documented with still photographs, camera traps, and video camera thousands of hours of footage and live video recordings documenting parental behavior in the dens of striped hyena. All dens were located while driving in a 4 × 4 vehicle and following adults or by tracking them on foot.…”

Mammal Roadkills in Lithuanian Urban Areas: A 15-Year Study

“…There is no doubt that COVID-19 lockdowns made urban environments more attractive for some wildlife species [71], including carnivores such as hyenas [72]. Landscape factors have not changed, just human activity has been significantly reduced [73].…”

Hotspots and Factors Influencing Vertebrate Roadkill on the Ring Changbai Mountain Scenic Road, China

“…While the development of transportation infrastructure has undoubtedly facilitated the movement of people and goods, it has also resulted in a range of negative environmental impacts [1,2], one of the most notable of which is collisions between wildlife and vehicles [3]. Extensive research focused on roadkill has been carried out in many countries [4,5], and it has been found that the occurrence of roadkill is more likely when vehicles encounter slow-moving animals or scavengers [6][7][8]. Wildlife-vehicle collisions in certain areas have been increasingly recognized as a significant factor contributing to wildlife mortality [5], resulting in a decline in wildlife populations [9].…”