Striped Hyena Found Dead After Being Stoned by Arabs Near Israeli Settlement

A striped hyena, Israel's largest remaining predator, was found dead on Friday after being trapped and stoned to death by Arabs near the settlement of Kidar. The hyena, a member of the only hyena species in Israel, is considered an endangered population with an estimated 1,000 adults remaining in the country. The species has a wide geographic range across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, with a global population estimated at fewer than 10,000. In Israel, striped hyenas inhabit unpopulated areas, including the Hermon mountain region and sandy deserts. They face numerous threats, such as poisoning, shooting, carcass removal, and road accidents, with the latter being the most severe. Striped hyenas are nocturnal animals, primarily feeding on carrion but capable of hunting larger prey. The incident near Kidar highlights the ongoing dangers this species faces.