CAMPO GRANDE, Brazil (March 24 2026) — The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is calling for urgent international action at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS CoP15) to protect the striped hyena, a species facing increasing threats and a steady global decline.

WCS is urging Parties to support the proposal to include the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) on both Appendix I and Appendix II of CMS. The species is currently classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List, yet its global population is estimated to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals and is in a state of continuous decline. This status is driven by several critical factors, including habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal hunting and trade. Here is the proposal:  Proposal 30.2.2

“The striped hyena is slipping toward a more precarious conservation status, yet it remains largely overlooked in global policy frameworks,” said Sue Lieberman, WCS Vice President for International Policy. “Listing this species on CMS Appendices I and II will help catalyze urgently needed international cooperation to protect remaining populations of this fascinating and ecologically important species.”

The striped hyena ranges across parts of Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia, occupying environments from savannas and grasslands to semi-deserts and mountainous regions. Despite this wide distribution, populations are typically small, fragmented, and vulnerable to local extinction.

Adding the species to CMS Appendix I would afford it the highest level of protection, requiring countries to strictly safeguard the species, conserve and restore its habitats, remove barriers to movement, and prohibit direct killing or capture except under very limited circumstances. Listing on Appendix II would complement these protections by promoting coordinated international action—encouraging countries across the species’ range to work together through agreements, action plans, and shared conservation strategies.

Together, a dual listing on both appendices would help ensure not only strict protection, but also the international collaboration needed to conserve a species that regularly crosses borders.

Striped hyenas are highly mobile and depend on large, connected landscapes. They exhibit a range of movement patterns, from daily foraging to long-distance dispersal, often crossing international boundaries in search of food and water. In arid regions, individuals may travel more than 12 kilometers in a single day, and dispersal distances of over 80 kilometers have been recorded. These movements are essential for maintaining genetic connectivity and long-term population viability.

However, this mobility also increases risk. Expanding road networks, habitat fragmentation, and physical barriers such as fences and border infrastructure disrupt critical movement corridors. At the same time, habitat loss driven by agricultural expansion and urbanization continues to shrink available space, while declines in prey and carrion sources further stress populations.

Human-wildlife conflict remains a significant threat, with striped hyenas often killed in retaliation due to livestock predation (real or perceived) or negative cultural perceptions. Illegal hunting and trade for body parts used in traditional practices also contribute to ongoing population declines.

“Striped hyenas depend on connected landscapes that span international borders,” Lieberman added. “CMS provides the framework for countries to work together to conserve migratory species like this one. Without that cooperation, their future remains uncertain.”

Despite the growing threats, the striped hyena is not currently listed under CMS, limiting opportunities for coordinated conservation across its range. WCS emphasizes that available population data are outdated and incomplete, reinforcing the need for precautionary action now.

CMS CoP15 will take place March 23–29, 2026, in Campo Grande, Brazil, at the Bosque Expo, marking the first time the meeting is hosted in Brazil—home to some of the world’s richest biodiversity and the iconic Pantanal region. Convened under the theme “Connecting Nature to Sustain Life,” the meeting brings together governments, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, and conservation leaders to address the urgent challenges facing migratory species worldwide.

Decisions taken at the meeting will have far-reaching implications for biodiversity conservation, ecological connectivity, and sustainable development.

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