Spotted hyenas are among the most cognitively complex carnivores, yet they are rarely kept in zoos. When they are, their complex social and cognitive needs present significant welfare challenges.
Spotted hyenas in captivity face profound welfare challenges. Their complex clan social structure cannot be replicated in small zoo groups. Cognitive complexity without stimulation drives stereotypies and abnormal behavior. Female dominance hierarchies create persistent stress for subordinate individuals. Enclosures rarely approach the spatial requirements of wild ranging behavior. Yet hyenas in good zoo settings with enriched environments and appropriate social groups can demonstrate high welfare indicators. The challenge is that the baseline requirements are so demanding. Conservation value of zoo hyena populations is limited given healthy wild numbers — the welfare calculus for holding hyenas in captivity requires careful assessment.