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No Laughing Matter: Hyena Conservation

Help Hyena's in Africa!

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No Laughing Matter: Hyena Conservation

No Laughing Matter: Hyena Conservation

No Laughing Matter: Hyena Conservation

No Laughing Matter: Hyena Conservation

No Laughing Matter: Hyena Conservation

Help Hyena's in Africa!

Help Hyena's in Africa!

Help Hyena's in Africa!

Help Hyena's in Africa!

Alexander Cooper
Alexander Cooper
Alexander Cooper
Alexander Cooper
1 Campaign |
Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom
$137 USD $137 USD 6 backers
1% of $11,808 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

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.

                                        


Perks

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!

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Choose your Perk

Hyena High-Five!

Currency Conversion $6 USD
£5 GBP
For your generous contribution the Hyena's of Africa give you a High-Five!
2 out of 500 of claimed

Certificate of Thanks

Currency Conversion $25 USD
£20 GBP
For your valuable donation we will e-mail you a personalised PDF certificate thanking you for your contribution to this project.
Estimated Shipping
February 2015
1 out of 300 of claimed

Name a Spotted Hyena

Currency Conversion $62 USD
£50 GBP
Name one of the wild Spotted Hyena's that roam our reserve!
1 out of 10 of claimed

Name a Brown Hyena

Currency Conversion $62 USD
£50 GBP
Name one of the reserves elusive Brown Hyena's!
0 out of 8 of claimed

Hyena Helper!

Currency Conversion $311 USD
£250 GBP
In addition to naming either a Spotted or Brown Hyena you will receive regular updates and pictures about your Hyena.
Estimated Shipping
February 2015
0 out of 8 of claimed

GPS Collar Data

Currency Conversion $621 USD
£500 GBP
In appreciation of your donation you will receive a map showing the movement of your Hyena, as well as regular picture updates.
Estimated Shipping
February 2015
0 out of 8 of claimed

Hyena Hero!

Currency Conversion $6,215 USD
£5,000 GBP
A week long stay at the heart of the reserve! This is your opportunity to gain first hand experience into how this study is conducted, as well as having an Africa experience of a lifetime! Terms and conditions apply (flights, insurance, visa, not included)
Estimated Shipping
April 2015
0 out of 2 of claimed
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