The persistence of the Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Hyaenidae) as a predator of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea Eschscholtz, 1829 (Reptilia: Testudines: Cheloniidae) eggs

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Published: Dec 26, 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3660.9.12.11100-11102
Keywords:
Coastal conservation, coastal predators, diet, Rushikulya, threatened species.

Main Article Content

Divya Karnad
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning, 170/3 Morattandi, Auroville Post, Tamil Nadu 605101, India
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4967-5362

Abstract

A few records of the Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena, a Near Threatened species, suggest that it can survive along coasts, preying on intertidal fauna.  This record updates earlier information about the presence of the Striped Hyena preying on the Rushikulya Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea mass-nesting beach to show that the hyena persists in this human-dominated landscape.  In addition, it provides details of the first direct sighting of the Striped Hyena feeding on sea turtle eggs.  The implications of the presence of this predator for conservation and coastal development are discussed. 

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 9 No. 12 (2017)
Section
Notes

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Author Biography

Divya Karnad, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning, 170/3 Morattandi, Auroville Post, Tamil Nadu 605101, India

Graduate Student, Department of Geography

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