Spotted hyenas have one of the most complex social structures of any carnivore, with matriarchal clans, dominance hierarchies, and sophisticated communication systems that make individual welfare inseparable from social context.
Spotted hyena welfare in the wild is primarily threatened by human persecution driven by their reputation as dangerous scavengers. In reality, hyenas are sophisticated predators that fulfill important ecological roles and have rich social and emotional lives. Individual hyenas have distinct personalities, form long-term social bonds, and experience states analogous to frustration, excitement, and social stress. Conservation of hyena populations and reduction of retaliatory killing requires changing public perception from vermin to valued predator. Hyenas in captivity face welfare challenges including inadequate space for their wide-ranging behavior and social complexity that small groups cannot support.