Saudi Arabia announces the registration of new births of striped hyena in an environmental achievement

(CNN) - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the recording of new births of the striped hyena in a new environmental achievement.

According to a statement published by the official website of the Saudi News Agency “SPA” on Monday, the National Center for Wildlife Development, in cooperation with NEOM, documented the first births of the striped hyena after the resettlement of four individuals of the species in the NEOM Natural Reserve, in an indication of its adaptation to the reserve’s environment and its ability to reproduce in the wild.

This comes within the Center's programs to propagate and reintroduce fungal species, including predatory species, and support the restoration of their natural roles in ecosystems, after selecting a pair of striped hyenas and subjecting them before release to a rehabilitation and care program in the Center's shelter center, which included veterinary examinations, health follow-ups, and preparing the creatures to move to the natural environment.

A specialized team from the center also conducted a field assessment of the resettlement site to verify its readiness and environmental suitability to receive hyenas.

In November 2025, the hyenas were transferred to the NEOM Nature Reserve under the supervision of the Center’s veterinary teams, and were released in prepared locations within the reserve, and continued to be followed using tracking collars, field cameras, and field monitoring, in conjunction with the implementation of a well-studied feeding plan in coordination between the Center and NEOM, to enhance the natural nutritional behavior of the hyenas and support their adaptation to habitat conditions after the release.

As follow-up work continued, the teams documented the female hyena leaving the burrow with her calf for the first time this August.

The mother showed normal behavior in caring for and protecting her baby, and the newborn is in good health.

Specialized teams continue to monitor his condition and growth, according to the statement.

Dr. Muhammad Ali Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife Development, explained that recording the first birth of the striped hyena after its resettlement represents an important milestone within the programs for the propagation and resettlement of wild species, and reflects the integration of scientific work that begins with propagation and rehabilitation, and extends to habitat assessment, selection of appropriate sites, and continuous monitoring after release.

He also stated that the center achieved important results in breeding the striped hyena under human care, represented by recording the birth of a number of puppies in its breeding centers.

The striped hyena plays an important environmental role by feeding on dead animals and carcasses, while its numbers have witnessed a decline in some areas of its distribution as a result of a number of threats, most notably hunting and poisoning.