Two Injured Striped Hyena Cubs Rehabilitated and Released to the Wild
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Two injured striped hyena cubs, Gadum and Lola, were released back into the wild in southern Israel after a 14-month rehabilitation program at the Desert Bar wildlife hospital. The unique process, overseen by Adi Markovich and Dr. Nevo Schwartz, focused on preventing habituation to humans. The Desert Bar is now rehabilitating two more male hyena cubs with similar goals for their eventual release.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Two injured striped hyena cubs were released into the wild in southern Israel after a 14-month rehabilitation.
- The cubs, Gadum and Lola, were rescued with severe leg injuries, including a severed paw.
- The rehabilitation program at the Desert Bar focused on preventing habituation to humans.
- Monitoring was conducted remotely via cameras, and feeding schedules were varied.
- The Desert Bar is currently rehabilitating two additional male hyena cubs.
- Successful rehabilitation and release of wild animals is a key goal for modern zoos.
After a rehabilitation process lasting over a year, two striped hyena cubs, Gadum and Lola, who were rescued with severe leg injuries, have been successfully released back into the southern Israeli wild. The cubs, approximately four months old when they arrived in April 2025 with injuries including a severed front paw, underwent a unique rehabilitation program at the Desert Bar, a wildlife hospital affiliated with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA).
The rehabilitation, led by Adi Markovich, Director of the Predators Department at the Desert Bar, focused on preventing the cubs from becoming accustomed to humans. This was achieved through a carefully managed feeding schedule with varying times and locations, and all monitoring was conducted remotely via cameras. Dr. Nevo Schwartz, a veterinarian at the Desert Bar, proposed the specialized project to ensure the hyenas could relearn necessary survival skills.
Striped hyenas, known as "nature's sanitation workers" due to their diet primarily consisting of carrion rather than active hunting, are the largest predators in Israel. Their naturally calm demeanor and preference for avoiding human contact aided the rehabilitation process, as they did not need to develop complex hunting skills.
Before their release, the hyenas received a general veterinary check-up, vaccinations, and tracking transmitters were attached. The Desert Bar and INPA teams released the cubs into the southern open areas, where they disappeared into the bushes. This successful rehabilitation and release is considered a significant achievement, as many rescued cubs struggle to adapt back to the wild.
The Desert Bar is continuing its rehabilitation efforts with two new male hyena cubs. One, four months old, is missing a front leg, and the other, six months old, has recovered from an injury. Both are undergoing the same careful acclimation process with the goal of a future release into the wild, replicating the success with Gadum and Lola.