The feeding habits of brown hyaenas (Hyaena brunnea) on a game ranch in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

We analysed prey remains, particularly hair, in 38 brown hyaena Hyaena brunnea scats from a game ranch in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. The brown hyaenas fed on a wide variety of mammals, supplementing their diet with insects and plant material. Artiodactyls were the most important mammalian food source, with hair of common  duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) being the most frequent food item in the faeces.

Key words: carnivores, diet, scat analysis.