Ethiopia's urban hyenas double as waste workers and cultural icons
In Ethiopian cities like Harar and Mekelle, spotted hyenas and other scavengers help clean up urban waste by scavenging leftovers, reducing disposal costs and emissions, and potentially limiting disease spread. Studies show these urban hyenas process thousands of metric tons of waste annually, a mutual benefit locals largely view as positive, though attitudes vary by city. In Harar, a centuries-old hyena-feeding tradition persists inside the ancient walls and has become a tourism draw, while Mekelle’s hyenas commute nightly to landfills. Researchers caution that excessive habituation could provoke conflict, urging planners to balance ecosystems with initiatives like controlled eco-parks to sustain coexistence.
