- Where to see one
- 5 U.S. zoos in our directory hold striped hyena, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the striped hyena
The striped hyena is the smallest of the bone-cracking hyenas and the only living member of its genus. It is native to North and East Africa, the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Mainly a nocturnal scavenger, it eats carcasses of zebra, wildebeest, gazelle and impala, crushing the bones, and sometimes kills smaller prey such as hares and rodents. It shelters by day in caves, rock fissures and burrows. Pairs are monogamous, and both parents help raise the cubs. The species is listed as near-threatened, with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals.
Striped Hyena facts
- It typically emerges only in complete darkness and returns to its lair before sunrise.
- When attacked, it may feign death, or spray a pungent liquid from its anal glands.
- The striped hyena is the national animal of Lebanon.
- Cubs are born with adult markings and closed eyes, which open after 7 to 8 days.
Where to see striped hyena in the U.S.
5 zoos across 4 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 4 zoos holding striped hyena by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
1 more zoo holds striped hyena but has no coordinates on file yet, so it isn't ranked here. It's in the full list below.
California· 1
Florida· 2
New York· 1
Texas· 1
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
