A spotted hyena was spotted in Egypt for the first time in 5,000 years, but it was shot. What was it doing there? (photos)

Spotted hyena has made a long and challenging journey, arriving in southeastern Egypt — marking the first sighting of this species in the country in the last 5000 years. The animal traveled alone and, unfortunately, was shot approximately 30 kilometers from the Sudanese border, reports IFLScience.

It is known that the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) was spotted in Egypt last year. The animal reportedly killed two goats in the protected area of Elba before it was shot in February 2024. Now, ecologists believe that the hyena's appearance in this region is a rare record for the entire species.

According to Dr. Abdulla Nadi from Al-Azhar University, his initial reaction to the news was disbelief. However, after examining photos and videos of the remains, he had no doubts. Scientists note that they were extremely surprised, as the spotted hyena is not something typically found in Egypt.

The area where the animal was shot is located about 500 kilometers north of the known range of spotted hyenas, which, like striped hyenas, are native to Sudan. Generally, these animals travel about 27 kilometers a day, so the appearance of a solitary individual so far from home raises many questions.

In their study, Nadi and his colleagues focused on determining what prompted the hyena to undertake such a long journey. The researchers suggested that increased rainfall might have created more extensive grazing pastures, attracting more prey, which in turn drew the spotted hyenas. To investigate this, scientists used satellite imagery and measured how much vegetation grew in the area from 1984 to 2022 — a good indicator of rainfall and grazing conditions.

The team found patterns between prolonged droughts lasting several years and shorter, wetter periods. The results indicate that the last five years have seen greater plant growth compared to the previous two decades. Researchers believe that this period provided more food for grazing species, which in turn attracted spotted hyenas.

According to Nadi, the fact that the area has become less ecologically harsh likely allowed the hyena to venture so far north. However, scientists still do not understand the animal's motivations for its journey to Egypt. Further research will be needed to answer this question.

If climate change continues to alter weather patterns, it may mean that species appearing in unexpected locations will become more common.