He was overheating and running out of time 🥵
Miraculous Rescue of a Spotted Hyena
Last month, workers at a South African landfill arrived to a shocking sight: a spotted hyena lay sprawled in the dirt, unmoving. Alarmed, they called the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) for help.
A conservation official quickly notified the Phalaborwa Natural Heritage Foundation (PNHF), which dispatched volunteers and a veterinarian to the scene.
A Critical Condition
“The hyena was lying in the open, in full sun and breathing rapidly,” said Eugene Troskie, managing director at PNHF. “He was already in a comatose state.”
The animal had a snare around his neck and showed no signs of consciousness. Yet because he was still alive, the team knew he had a chance.
For safety, the veterinarian sedated him, and the team carefully moved him into the back of a truck to shield him from the sun. His body temperature had soared to 107 degrees Fahrenheit, putting him at serious risk.
Volunteers placed ice packs on his legs and feet and doused him with cold water every 15 minutes to cool him down.
A Long Day of Care
Troskie admitted the team doubted the hyena would recover. “He didn’t even show a blinking reflex when we touched his eyes,” he said. The veterinarian suspected the hyena had ingested some kind of poison.
Throughout the day, the vet administered multiple medications while volunteers poured more than 15 gallons of water over the hyena, working to lower his temperature and pull him out of the coma.
A Remarkable Recovery
Miraculously, around 6 p.m., the hyena opened his eyes. Hours later, he stood up, wobbling slightly but alive and alert.
By 1 a.m., after nearly 20 hours of continuous care, the PNHF team opened the cage door. “We didn’t want to keep him in the cage any longer than necessary,” Troskie said, noting that hyenas often damage their teeth when confined.
The hyena slowly poked his head out, sniffed the ground, and then trotted off into the trees.
Back to the Wild
Since that night, the team hasn’t seen the hyena again—which is a positive sign. They’re confident he reunited with his clan and will make a full recovery in the wild.