Spotted hyena

Crocuta crocuta · Hyaenidae

The spotted hyena, also known as the laughing hyena, is a hyena species, currently classed as the sole extant member of the genus Crocuta, native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN due to its widespread range and large numbers estimated between 27,000 and 47,000 individuals. The species is, however, experiencing declines outside of protected areas due to habitat loss and poaching.

Where the Spotted hyena lives

Recorded in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Benin and Uganda (Africa).

Most records fall in Mpumalanga, Rift Valley, Limpopo, Arusha, Mara and Oshikoto.

See the Spotted hyena’s range on the globe

Conservation status

Least concern (LC). Not at risk: it is doing well in the wild. Categories are the IUCN Red List as republished by GBIF.

Sources

The range is a density of 9,828 georeferenced GBIF records, not an expert-drawn map. Description from Wikipedia.