A pair of rare brown hyenas settled in the Moscow Zoo

The official website of the Moscow mayor announced the arrival of new residents at the Moscow Zoo. A pair of brown hyenas arrived in the capital from the Krasnodar Zoo. Now they are actively settling into their new location.

The hyenas have taken up residence on the old zoo grounds, in a pavilion located next to the puma and bush dog enclosures. A large enclosure was prepared especially for them. Previously, it housed cubs of maned wolves, which recently moved to zoos in the Czech Republic and France.

The open area of the enclosure is divided into two parts so that zoo staff have the opportunity to separate the animals if necessary. In both walking areas there are areas covered with grass, areas with sand and soil, trees and shrubs growing. In addition, small wooden houses for animals to rest are located throughout the territory.

Zoo staff paid special attention to strengthening the enclosure in its lower part. The fact is that brown hyenas are capable of digging holes several meters deep. By the way, they have already started doing their favorite thing - digging the earth.

The animals are currently getting used to their new home. Sometimes they play together or explore the territory with curiosity. Zoologists plan that in the future the couple will give birth to offspring. Despite the fact that brown hyenas rarely breed in zoos, the institution’s specialists expect to better study this species and contribute to its conservation.

There have never been brown hyenas in the Moscow Zoo before. In the International Red Book, these predators are designated as close to vulnerable. There are only four to 10 thousand adult individuals living in the wild.

The brown hyena is considered the rarest species among hyenas. In the wild, they live in the countries of Southern Africa, for example in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, southern Angola, southern Tanzania. In the wild, brown hyenas live up to 20 years. In zoos their life expectancy is longer.