Spotted hyenas are among the most socially complex carnivores and require appropriate group management to prevent the welfare harms of social stress and aggression.
Spotted hyena welfare in captivity requires sophisticated understanding of their matriarchal social system. Inappropriate social grouping that mismatches dominance relationships creates chronic stress for subordinate individuals and serious injury risk from conflict. Female dominance means that male welfare is particularly dependent on appropriate introduction protocols that establish stable social relationships. The complexity of hyena social dynamics demands significant keeper knowledge and management skill.