Abstract:
The brown hyaena (Parahyaena brunnea) is endemic to southern Africa. The largest population
of this near-threatened species occurs in Botswana, but limited data were available to assess
distribution and density. Our objectives were to use a stratified approach to collate available
data and to collect more data to assess brown hyaena distribution and density across land uses
in Botswana. We conducted surveys using track counts, camera traps and questionnaires and
collated our results and available data to estimate the brown hyaena population based on the
stratification of Botswana for large carnivores. Brown hyaenas occur over 533 050 km² (92%) of
Botswana. Our density estimates ranged from 0 brown hyaenas/100 km² in strata of northern
Botswana to 2.94 (2.16–3.71) brown hyaenas/100 km² in the southern stratum of the Central
Kalahari Game Reserve. We made assumptions regarding densities in strata that lacked data,
using the best references available. We estimated the brown hyaena population in Botswana as
4642 (3133–5993) animals, with 6.8% of the population in the Northern Conservation Zone,
73.1% in the Southern Conservation Zone, 2.0% in the smaller conservation zones and 18.1%
in the agricultural zones. The similar densities of brown hyaenas in the Central Kalahari Game
Reserve and the Ghanzi farms highlight the potential of agricultural areas in Botswana to
conserve this species. The conservation of brown hyaenas in the agricultural landscape of
Botswana is critical for the long-term conservation of the species; these areas provide important
links between populations in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS : Botswana contains the core of the brown hyaena population in
southern Africa, and conflict mitigation on agricultural land is crucial to maintaining
connectivity among the range countries.
