Personal Profile
My name is Alex Cooper, I’m a qualified zoologist from Britain living in the wilds of Africa. I am a research student studying through the University of Bristol, for my masters in Zoology. This is a unique opportunity to gain valuable information about the scarcely documented interaction between Spotted and Brown Hyena.
I think the first memory most people have of Hyena’s was in Walt Disney’s The Lion King, where they are depicted as nasty, cackling, although somewhat humorous, villains. This however is definitely not the case. Spotted Hyena’s are very unique, have complex social structures and are extremely intelligent. Coupled with effective hunting and survival strategies these are formidable carnivores, which range from Eastern through to Southern Africa.
Although many people may be familiar with Spotted Hyena, Brown Hyena may be an entirely unknown species. Brown Hyena occupy an entirely different ecological niche, this species is nocturnal and scavenging is the primary method of feeding. The Brown Hyaena ranges throughout Southern Africa, however due to a lack of adequate information there are significant holes in ecological knowledge about this species.
My study is situated in the lowveld of Southern Zimbabwe, where the habitat is classed as a moist savannah. There has been very little investigation into the ecology of both Brown and Spotted Hyaena in such an environment. In addition the only large scale study of interaction between these 2 Hyaena species was conducted in the Kalahari Desert, where behaviour is affected by the environment. Other studies looking at each species individually also focus on behaviour in environments where clan size and group organisation is affected by prey densities and cross-species competition.
Every single donation no matter how small is extremely appreciated and all contributes to one common cause. We have an exciting list of perks to offer you in support of our campaign.
Hyena Hero £5,000-
Your contribution to our cause will allow you to join me and
my team at the heart of the reserve for 1 week! You will be involved
with setting up camera traps, trekking
through the African savannah and downloading collar data, direct observation of
hyenas at den sites and hides. In addition to seeing how the study operates you
will experience some of Africas most pristine wild areas with the possibility
of seeing some of Africa's most iconic species (Lions, Leopards, Elephants,
Rhino, Buffalo- and of course hyena's!). Please note: All terms and condition apply. Dates have only minor flexibility, and the experience will commence around April 2015.
Gps Collar Data £500-
In appreciation for your contribution we will send you regular picture updates of your hyena as well as a map generated by ArcView GIS generate map with all the movement patterns for your hyena. This level of contribution will also see you accredited in any and all published work.
Hyena Helper £250-
In addition to naming a Hyena you will also be supplied with regular updates and pictures of your Hyena. You will also be accredited in any and all published work.
Name a Spotted/Brown Hyena £50-
In recognition of your contribution to this campaign, we are offering you the chance to name one of the Spotted or Brown Hyenas on the reserve! You will also receive a picture of your Hyena.
Certificate of Thanks £20-
At this level of perk you will receive a personalised PDF certification in appreciation for your support of this campaign.
Hyena High-Five! £5-
No contribution is to small! and in appreciation of your donation all the Hyenas of Africa thank you with a high-five!
How your Donations will be used
The proceeds from every donation made towards this campaign will go directly to the research and conservation of Hyena's. On completion of the study I am conducting, all equipment will be donated to wildlife causes in the surrounding conservation areas. Priority for equipment will be given to anti poaching units, working on the ground to prevent the slaughter of wildlife. Thereafter research equipment will be passed onto on-going research projects targeting other threatened and endangered wildlife.
Camera Traps Essential for the remote monitoring of Hyenas at specific sites of interest such as, Dens, Kills and Resting sites. The Camera Traps will collect valuable information about activity periods, interaction of different species and allow us to assess the population status in the area.
Fuel Often an oversight in the planning of a study, this is an essential exspendature as Hyenas have large home territories and are often moving locations. TTherefore tracking and monitoring these species is a task in itself. The reserve I am based on has a fuel allowance, however this cost has to be subsidised.
Tyres/Repairs Another oversight is the maintenance of vehicles, as we work in the African bush terrain is extremely difficult to traverse, and as we are often travelling vast distances off of even dirt roads, vehicles (especially tyres) take a severe beating. It is therefore essential we have multiple spare tyres and are able to repair punctured ones.
Technology This includes the purchase of handheld GPS devices, to allow the team to mark points of interest (pasting sites, resting sites, dens etc.) as well as plot the path taken by hyenas. This will give us data about daily movement patterns, average distances travelled as well as the overlap between species. Other costs include SD cards (for camera traps) and VHF Radio tracking equipment.
Collar Removal The removal of collars once the study has been completed is essential in restoring the Hyena's involved, to their most natural state. Costs include the expertise of a veterinary team, travel around the reserve as well as the various drugs involved in anesthetising Hyena's.
Miscellaneous These are various costs involved with the study, these costs include rechargeable batteries and rechargeable battery wells, the subsidy of scout rewards (small rewards are given to scouts who find active den sites) as well as the cost of scat sample analysis.
Implications & Outcomes of the Study
In order to conserve a species it is essential to first
understand the problems faced and reasons why populations are declining. This
study for my masters will provide all the necessary information needed to
develop key understanding of both Brown and Spotted Hyaena. This will therefore
lead onto a more complex and in depth study for my PhD, where I will
investigate and research human-wildlife conflict between humans and Hyaena in
the reserve and neighbouring community land.
Spotted Hyaena are listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red
List, with a lower end population estimate of 27,000 individuals. Brown Hyaena
are listed ‘Near Threatened’ as with a lower end population estimate of 5,000
individuals. It is essential to develop a robust method of estimating
populations both with accuracy and precision, some of these methods will be
analysed in my study as well as suggestions being made for improvements and
developing new methods.
Conservation areas (Wildlife reserves, national
parks and protected areas) are becoming increasingly isolated and smaller in size.
Human pressure is putting significant strain on wildlife populations throughout
Africa and the world. An offshoot from this study is to educate and involve
local communities in understanding the importance of conserving and protecting
biodiversity. In addition, if sufficient funds are raised, it is my aim to take
a member of the community to be trained as a scout (under one of my current
scouts).
How you Can Help
We understand not everyone has the capability to donate funds, however there are other ways you can help. Please share this campaign via Facebook and Twitter, if you are involved with any clubs or have colleagues/ family that can influence groups of people, it would be well received and very much appreciated!
Finally, if anyone would like to see some of the work I have done in Africa please have a look at my youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFAA8-CEMJZ-_tvCa67M9sQ
Thank you for your time!