The Hattiesburg Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of a hyena cub, born September 25 at 11 p.m. to mother Pili and father Niru. Both mother and cub are doing well. “Pili has proven herself to be a wonderful mom to all of her cubs, and her instincts with this cub have been equally strong,” said Kristen Moore, Director of Animal Care. “Pili is nursing the cub and they are bonding appropriately.”
Pili and Niru’s first cub Kito, was born at the Hattiesburg Zoo on October 17, 2022. The Hattiesburg Zoo, in cooperation with the Species Survival Plan (SSP) announced in late September 2023 that Kito was being relocated to the Rolling Hills Zoo in Kansas where he will eventually be a part of a breeding pair. A second set of twin cubs were born October 13, 2023, but only one cub, Cazimira (Cazi) survived. Cazimira is less than one week from celebrating her first birthday at the Hattiesburg Zoo. “We have been in discussion with the SSP about strategically placing Cazi as she will also be a part of the hyena breeding program at the appropriate time,” said Moore. In anticipation of the arrival of the newest cub, plans have been underway to move Cazi in early 2025.
Hyena births are proven to be tricky both in the wild and in a zoo environment for the mothers and cubs. It is unusual for a female hyena to birth a single cub, especially in a first litter. Hyenas usually bear litters of two to four cubs with only an approximate 40% survival rate. “The success of the Hattiesburg Zoo’s hyena breeding program is a testament to knowledge and care our animal care team gives to hyena family,” said Rick Taylor, Executive Director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, which operates the zoo. “I am proud of the team, and appreciate their dedication to their craft as the Hattiesburg Zoo is proving to be a standout in hyena breeding.” Hyenas are a critically endangered species so the success the Hattiesburg Zoo has had in breeding is vitally important. The Hattiesburg Zoo was the only SSP facility to have a live hyena birth in North America in 2022 and 2023.
Hattiesburg Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Julia MacGregor performed the initial health assessment on September 27 and noted, “The cub is healthy and meeting all expected milestones at this point.” The first weight on the cub was 1.6kgs. The second exam took place on October 1, when the cub weighed 1.95kgs. “This cub’s weight gain is on par with Pili’s previous cubs, which is good news,” said MacGregor. “Its ears are beginning to come ‘unpinned’, which is fun to watch as it grows.” “We strive to make our initial and subsequent exams as efficient as possible so that we cut down on the time the cub and Pili are separated, which minimizes stress experienced by both mother and cub,” said MacGregor.
Cazi has seen the cub and interacted with it through the mesh of their indoor living area. Face-to-face introductions between Pili, Cazi and the new cub will begin in a few weeks and will take place in short increments. Interaction with Niru will take place after keepers are comfortable with the first introductions. The gender of the cub will be revealed in early 2025.
