Il Nuovo Postiglione - Spotted Hyena Returns to Egypt After 5,000 Years, Sparking Human-Wildlife Conflict

In the village of Abu Ramad, located in the Halaib area of Egypt’s Red Sea Governorate, a pair of mutilated sheep killed on a wind-scoured morning signaled the return of a predator long absent from collective memory: the spotted hyena. The discovery marked the first confirmed sighting of the species in the region since ancient times, ending a five-millennia absence and immediately triggering a violent response from local residents who no longer possess the cultural or practical knowledge to coexist with the animal.

Faisal Ohag, an English teacher residing in Halaib, reported that local shepherds discovered two sheep that had been killed and partially eaten. The scene presented evidence of a significant threat: large, violent bite marks on the prey and footprints much larger than those of a dog. Following these tracks by car, motorcycle, and camel, the villagers located a cave in Jabal Elba (Elba Mountain) where they found the predator.

Officials from Egypt’s Ministry of Environment confirmed that personnel at the Elba Protected Area had not observed the animal prior to its encounter with locals. Instead, residents cornered the hyena and killed it using swords, sticks, and rocks. Ohag noted that he arrived at the scene only after the animal had already been killed.

The return of the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) has stirred scientific intrigue and deep concern among experts. Salima Ikram, a professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo, highlighted the species’ historical integration into Egyptian society. She noted that ancient Egyptians depicted hyenas in art from the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, showing them not only captured but also force-fed in preparation for consumption. While feared, their meat was regarded as a luxury delicacy, and hyenas were utilized in medicine and rituals.

The spotted hyena is the largest of three hyena species, alongside the brown hyena and the striped hyena, which remains common in Egypt today. The species typically roams sub-Saharan Africa, including Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Angola, Namibia, and parts of South Africa.

Experts attribute the animal’s reappearance to shifting ecological conditions in the Elba Protected Area. Abdullah Nagy, a professor of ecology and zoology at Al-Azhar University, analyzed 20 years of satellite data revealing a slight rise in vegetation between the hyena’s range in Sudan and its recent sightings in Egypt. Although part of the desert belt, the Elba Protected Area transforms into a natural green carpet after heavy autumn rains.

Aldoushy Mahdy, Associate Professor of Aquatic Ecology & Marine Biology at Al-Azhar University (Assiut), corroborated these findings. He stated that increased rainfall in recent years has helped Jabal Elba flourish, making it more hospitable to wildlife and plant life. Mahdy noted the resurgence of distinctive flora, such as the rare Dragon’s Blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari), a species typically found on Yemen’s Socotra Island.

Nagy explained that the coastline’s moisture has created a passable route for the animal, which traveled nearly 300 kilometers of desert from Sudan. He described this as rare under normal conditions but suggested that increased plant cover may have established a corridor along the Red Sea Coast. Additionally, Nagy pointed to ongoing conflicts in neighboring Ethiopia and Sudan as potential drivers, noting that war can disrupt habitats and force animals to flee in search of safety. Hyenas, typically social in high-risk areas, may travel alone when resources are scarce.

The incident has highlighted the severe challenges of human-wildlife conflict in the region. Ohag explained that for locals whose livelihood depends on raising sheep and livestock, a predator killing two sheep a day could result in the loss of all animals within a month. Consequently, responses to threats are swift and unforgiving. Nagy supported this view, stating that locals refer to their livestock as their money, making it difficult for wildlife to expand its range and live in Jabal Elba.

This is not the first instance of such conflict. More than a decade ago, in 2014, an African leopard reached Egypt for the first time in 65 years. After attacking livestock in Wadi Shalal within the Elba Protected Area, locals killed it as well.

Wildlife conservation organizations are now working to mitigate these conflicts by raising awareness among locals about the importance of preserving these animals. Nagy suggested addressing the economic impact of losses through financial compensation for those who lose livestock. He also proposed securing villages and using satellites to track wildlife, sending alerts to conservation authorities when an animal approaches a settlement to enable rapid intervention.

Mahdy called for proactive, community-driven solutions rooted in deeper local engagement. He emphasized that awareness must lead rather than follow, suggesting collaboration with respected elders and figures revered for their wisdom to spread conservation messages at the grassroots level. Mahdy predicted that Egypt might start seeing many new species in the area due to these ecological changes.

However, Nagy cautioned that it remains uncertain whether such incidents will increase. He cited limited regional data from the Halaib Triangle, a border area difficult to study due to political and boundary issues, alongside the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict. As of early 2025, no further sightings of the spotted hyena had been reported in the region.

H.Zampino--INP