Tajikistan and Uzbekistan propose inclusion of Striped Hyena in CMS Appendices I and II

Key facts

• Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have submitted a proposal to include the Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) in Appendix I and II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
• The proposal will be considered during the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CMS COP15) scheduled for March 23-29 in Campo Grande, Brazil.
• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Striped Hyena is classified as Near Threatened globally and Vulnerable within the Mediterranean region.
• The global population of mature Striped Hyenas is estimated to be between 5,000 and 9,999 individuals.
• The Striped Hyena is one of four species belonging to the family Hyaenidae, which also includes the Spotted Hyena, the Brown Hyena, and the Aardwolf.
• The species is found across North and Sub-Saharan Africa, West Asia (Middle East), and Central and South Asia, including India.
• Listing under both Appendices would obligate member states to implement measures to safeguard the species and its habitats through coordinated transboundary conservation actions.
• Major threats to the species include habitat loss, fragmentation due to urbanisation and agricultural expansion, illegal hunting, and human-wildlife conflict.