We are home to two brown hyenas – sibling pair Flo and Quinn. These shaggy, elusive carnivores are the rarest of all hyena species and a real treat to spot on your visit.
Brown hyenas are the most mysterious of the hyena family. Native to southern Africa, they inhabit arid regions like deserts and savannahs. Unlike the more famous spotted hyena, brown hyenas are primarily scavengers, using their powerful sense of smell to locate carcasses across vast distances.
With a long, scruffy mane, striped legs and big, bat-like ears, they have a rather unusual look but are perfectly adapted for survival in harsh environments. They’re mostly nocturnal and can cover up to 30km in a single night while foraging for food!
Interesting facts!
- Brown hyenas rarely hunt; they rely primarily on scavenging
- Their sense of smell is so strong they can detect carcasses from over a kilometre away
- Their jaws are incredibly powerful – strong enough to crush large bones, including those of giraffes and antelope
- In the wild, they often have to compete with lions, leopards and spotted hyenas for food, so stealth is key
Conservation
Brown hyenas are listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List, with as little as 5,000 individuals left in the wild. Their populations are declining due to habitat loss, conflict with farmers, and illegal hunting.
As scavengers, they play a vital role in their ecosystem – cleaning up carcasses and helping prevent the spread of disease. Despite their ecological importance, they are often misunderstood and persecuted.
Newquay Zoo is proud to be home to this incredible species as part of a carefully managed conservation programme. By visiting the zoo, you’re helping support our work to protect brown hyenas and other threatened species around the world.
