Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) in need for conservation in Iran

Most of the vertebrate species populations affected by the main threatening factors like habitat destruction and fragmentation are experiencing rapid and worse destruction and decrease. Identification of potential and suitable habitats trough modeling tools and methods as well as survey on population relationship and contacts through genetic studies, provides needed knowledge and understanding to define the conservation status and needs for different species. For these purpose, Maximum Entropy (Maxent) and mitochondrial cytb sequencing with 704 bp were deployed. Based on the results, northern part of Iran followed by Semnan, Tehran, Qom and Alborz provinces, as well as western part including Khuzestan consisted the most suitable habitats for the species. Haplotype diversity of h= 0.894 as the main index, showed high genetic diversity for the populations of the species in Iran. Populations of Stripped Hyena, in Iran, are losing their main and suitable habitats due to habitats destruction and degradation, illegal hunting and lack of proper genetic connections. Decreasing populations and worse conservation status of the species convince us to prepare and conduct urgent conservation actions to prevent more loss. The study, using the habitat modeling and genetic surveys, as well as data gained from the field works, gives new vision on the conservation actions needed to protect stripped hyena in Iran