Ghosts of the Nile: Ancient predator returns to Egypt after 5,000 years

In a dramatic event linking ancient and modern Egypt, scientists have confirmed the first sighting of spotted hyenas in the country since the days of the Pharaohs, marking a remarkable return after 5,000 years of absence. However, the discovery ended tragically when local residents killed the animal after a livestock attack.

“My first reaction was disbelief, until I examined the photos and videos of the remains,” said Dr. Abdullah Naji of Al-Azhar University, who led the study published in the journal Mammals. this research. “I was completely stunned when I saw the evidence. It’s beyond anything we’ve found in Egypt.

The lone hyena was discovered 30 kilometers north of Egypt’s border with Sudan, having ventured 500 kilometers beyond its known range. The animal’s journey appears to be related to recent environmental changes that may have created a temporary wildlife corridor between the two countries.

The incident began in the Wadiahemib area of ​​the Elba Island reserve, where hyenas killed two goats over two nights. Local residents, expert trackers familiar with the area’s wildlife, found and chased the predator, eventually killing it in a pickup truck in February 2024.

Using nearly four decades of satellite data, researchers found that rainfall and vegetation growth in the region have increased over the past five years compared with the previous two decades. This change may have created favorable conditions for hyenas’ unprecedented migration north.

Spotted hyenas, traditionally found in sub-Saharan Africa, are highly adaptable predators that can travel up to 27 kilometers in a day. Although they typically live in herds, this individual appears to have made a solitary journey along corridors of increased vegetation and may have tracked the movements of livestock.

The area where the hyenas were found represents a unique ecological zone where Egypt meets tropical Sudan and has the highest plant diversity in the country. Recent changes in grazing patterns in the area, with more livestock being allowed to graze freely, may attract predators.

However, unlike parts of the Horn of Africa where humans and hyenas have coexisted for generations, southeastern Egypt lacks this cultural history. For local pastoralists, with few alternative sources of income, the loss of livestock to predators can be devastating.

The discovery forces scientists to reconsider the species’ known range and highlights how climate change and human activities affect the animals’ movements. It also highlights the complex challenges of human-wildlife conflict in a region where ancient predators are trying to reclaim their historic territory.

Although the hyena’s journey ended in tragedy, its existence raises important questions about wildlife conservation and adaptation to climate change. As environmental conditions continue to change, unexpected appearances of similar large predators may become more common, challenging communities and conservation agencies to develop new ways for humans and wildlife to coexist.