Hyenas have taken over a ghost town in the Namib Desert

In Namibia, hyenas have taken over a ghost town and abandoned mines in the Lüderitz area of the southern Namib Desert. Pictures show the brown hyenas slipping in and out of buildings as well as taking strolls around the abandoned town. A hyena taking a nap in what used to be a casino, another one exiting a mine entrance and cubs playing next to an abandoned building are just some of the bizarre yet precious moments, which have been captured on camera.

The pictures were released by the Brown Hyena Research Project, a NGO based in Lüderitz, which is active in the research and conservation of these rare and unique animals. Brown hyenas are one of largest and at the same time rarest large African carnivores and occur in the southern African sub-region.

conservation team in action

They are characterised by the long dark fur and the typical body proportions of hyenas such as the muscular neck and shoulders with less developed hind legs. The hyenas live in clans and in this specific area mainly feed on Cape fur seal pups or carcasses. They live in dens, which are something like a social meeting point of the clan.

According to the Brown Hyena Research Project, the hyenas use buildings in ghost towns and abandoned mines as dent site as these structures offer protection from the elements as well as protection for the cubs from predators. The hyenas prefer old pipe or drainage systems to build their dens in. And this is not the only ghost town in Namibia, which hyenas have taken over. However, they are not the only inhabitants of the ghost towns as porcupines and jackals also use the old buildings as shelters.

Photos by Brown Hyena Research Project

Discover Namibia’s wildlife and look behind the scences of these conservation projects

Not only is Namibia known for its abundance in wildlife but for its raw beauty and diverse landscape. Explore Namibia’s wilderness with all your senses, go on patrol with the rangers or take a deeper look into the conservation work conducted for the country’s wildcats during our eco and culture safari in Namibia. Get some insight into the work of a private game reserve, go on a Big 5 safari at famous Ethosha National Park to encounter hyenas, rhinos, giraffes or cheetahs and meet the Ju/‘Hoansi-San (the “real people”), the native peoples from the Kalahari, and discover their cultural heritage.

Interested in meeting hyena, cheetah & co. and exploring Africa’s wilderness with all your senses?

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