Striped hyenas help keep India clean, but remain misunderstood, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• The Indian striped hyena, with an estimated population of 1,000 to 3,000 individuals, potentially represents one of the largest groups in any country globally.
• Despite being listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List and receiving the highest legal protection under Schedule I of India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the species lacks a unified national conservation plan.
• These hyenas play a crucial ecological role as scavengers, consuming decaying meat and preventing the spread of pathogens, thus acting as natural public health agents.
• Conservation efforts are currently fragmented, relying on regional initiatives like awareness drives by the Wildlife Information and Nature Guide Society in West Bengal and a ₹14 lakh allocation by the Tamil Nadu government.

Detailed Insights:

• The global population of striped hyenas is estimated to be between 5,000 and 14,000 individuals.
• Negative folklore and cultural misunderstandings, such as beliefs associating hyenas with witches, significantly hinder conservation efforts.
• A major challenge to effective conservation is the lack of a proper national census for the species, making it difficult to determine its exact geographic distribution and establish safe havens.
• The shy and elusive nature of the striped hyena makes population mapping arduous, though India has demonstrated capability in estimating populations of other elusive species like the snow leopard.
• The absence of a comprehensive National Action Plan prevents the efficient unification of financial and logistical capacities from various state-level programs.
• Increased public awareness about the ecological value of hyenas is essential to mitigate cultural beliefs that threaten their survival.
• India's National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) 2017-2031 provides a framework for a landscape-level approach to conservation, which could be adapted for the striped hyena.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: An Indian law providing legal protection to various animal and plant species, with Schedule I offering the highest level of protection.
• IUCN Red List: The world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
• Scavengers: Animals that feed on carrion, dead plant material, or refuse, playing a vital role in ecosystem clean-up and nutrient cycling.
• National Action Plan: A strategic document outlining goals, objectives, and activities for conservation or development at a national level.