Like many other soldiers, the soldiers of Company A of the 9213th reserve battalion of the Binyamin Brigade guard the security of the state – but they too were very surprised when, during a routine patrol, they found a striped hyena puppy lying by the side of the road.
One of the battalion's soldiers, Nathaniel Metzger, said that it was obvious that the hyena was wounded and suffering, which did not leave them indifferent – so they decided to pick her up. Eran Aviv, another soldier in the battalion, carefully collected the hyena in his ceramic vest, and she returned with the soldiers to the base where they were located, where they arranged a comfortable and cushioned place for her. Later, they contacted Roy Gilad, the Binyamin area inspector of the Nature and Parks Authority, who rushed the hyena to the wildlife hospital at a safari in Ramat Gan.
Picked her up in his ceramic vest. Fighter Eran Arbiv with the wounded hyena // Photo: Reserve Battalion 9213
After arriving at the hospital, the hyena underwent a series of comprehensive tests that included X-rays, which revealed that the growth plates in her leg bones were open, indicating that the hyena, weighing only about 13 kilograms, was only a few months old. The photos diagnosed a fracture in her front-right leg, and also showed alarming fractures in her pelvic bones, which could affect her ability to tread and carry weight in her hind legs.
After the tests and receiving initial supportive care, the hyena was hospitalized in a quiet, heated and isolated room to prevent unnecessary stress. The guiding idea in the treatment of any wild animal, especially a super-predator such as hyena, is to try not to intervene if there is no absolute need for surgery, mainly due to possible complications that cannot be prevented. In this case, beyond treating the serious injuries, there is another challenge – which is to prevent the hyena from being stamped, that is, to avoid a situation in which the animal gets used to human society and even identifies itself as such, which may endanger it and people who will meet it in the wild in the future. Since the hyena is so young, the chances of signing her are high, so an action plan was required that combined intensive medical treatment combined with minimal contact between the staff and the hyena.
On the road to recovery
A few days ago, after the ideal treatment protocol for her was formulated, the hyena was put into surgery to repair the fracture in her front leg. Dr. Matan Or, a veterinary orthopedic specialist who also gave his learned opinion and who accompanies the hypocrite all along, performed it with the assistance of Dr. Shira Gonen-Shalom, a veterinarian at the hospital. The operation lasted about 4 hours, at the end of which the hyena's leg was cast tightly because the hospital staff already knows that a hyena's powerful jaw can easily break down any bandage or cast.
The hyena before surgery // Photo: Safari Spokesperson's Office in Ramat Gan
According to Dr. Orr, during the surgery it was discovered that the fracture was near central nerves, which caused significant damage to the soft tissue around the fracture, which was stabilized and repaired with various implants to withstand the loads expected of such a powerful animal. "At the same time, we examined her pelvis again, which felt stable, with no movement of fractures or narrowings, so we decided to continue monitoring his condition and not operate on him at this stage," he said. "Later, the hyena was transferred to recover from the surgery, and she was already seen carrying weight, and even stepping and walking on her hind legs. Now, the team is waiting to see how her front leg will heal."
When the hyena fully recovers, she can expect a long and not at all simple acclimatization process due to her young age, in which she still needs to be with her mother and acquire the appropriate tools so that she can survive in the wild.
Took about 4 hours. The surgery in hyena // Photo: Safari Spokesperson's Office in Ramat Gan
Not what you thought
Despite their great power and in stark contrast to their negative reputation, the striped hyenas actually hide in the dishes. They are shy animals that will avoid confrontation as much as possible unless they are pushed into a corner. Striped hyena is Israel's largest land predator. They are solitary (solitary), so in nature they can be observed alone or in the female with her cub, who forage together for food. Groups of mothers can rarely be seen joining together at certain times or to help each other.
According to the IUCN (World Union for the Conservation of Nature), the number of striped hyenas in the world stands at about 10,<> specimens, with the overall population size declining. The striped hyena is at a very serious risk level in the Middle East.
A long acclimatization process awaits her. The hyena during surgery, photo: Safari Spokesperson's Office in Ramat Gan
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