Spotted hyenas are among Africa's most successful large predators, but are also among the most persecuted. Their complex social lives and intelligence make their welfare particularly significant.
Spotted hyena welfare suffers from their position as one of the most persecuted large carnivores in Africa. Unlike charismatic species that attract conservation funding, hyenas are culturally associated with cowardice, filth, and evil in many African traditions, reducing public support for their welfare. Persecution methods — poison baits, snares, and shooting — cause prolonged suffering. Hyenas with snare injuries suffer restricted movement affecting hunting ability and social functioning; orphaned cubs from pest control kills cannot survive without intensive care. The social disruption caused by removing dominant females from clan hierarchies can destabilise clan function for extended periods. Conservation approaches that reduce human-hyena conflict through livestock protection methods rather than lethal control directly benefit individual hyena welfare.