JEDDAH, 22 August 2003 — For over two years, the Fayfa store on Tahlia Street has been the home of what must be Jeddah’s most miserable hyena. The specimen, a male, has been confined in a 3 sq. m. cage, without a mate and outdoors, suffering Jeddah’s summer heat with temperatures which more often than not exceed the 40-degree mark.
He paces back and forth in his cage for over 20 hours a day, the same behavior exhibited by prisoners in solitary confinement. Veterinarians attribute this behavior to extreme mental stress and anguish. A doctor at Jeddah Veterinary Hospital told Arab News: “The pacing behavior is an indication of extreme psychological damage, making this animal dangerous.”
The hyena is described by an animal encyclopedia as being “a wild dog-like carnivore known for its scavenging habits and unpredictable nature,” making it a rather dangerous “pet”.
“Anyone thinking of buying a hyena should be fully aware of the habits of this creature, otherwise it can be a fatal purchase,” another veterinarian from a different animal clinic said. “They should be sold exclusively to zoos and establishments caring for its specific needs. That hyena must be in a great deal of physical and mental pain.”
According to a salesman at Fayfa, the hyena was captured in the southern region of Saudi Arabia and brought to their store. “He is not like a normal dog. You can’t teach him to sit or stay or roll over. He must always be chained and kept away from people because he does bite. This is not your average pet,” the salesman said. With a price tag of SR10,000 and that warning from the salesman, the hyena is unlikely to be sold anytime soon.
When asked what the shop planned to do with the hyena, the salesman said: “We will just keep him here. I don’t think anyone should buy him. In the meantime families can come and enjoy seeing him here. Maybe the zoo will buy him, but they already have two hyenas, so I don’t know.”
According to a source at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fayfa does not have a zoo permit but only a permit to sell animals
The future for this animal does not look bright, and releasing him into the wild is not an option. Arab News was considering reaching an agreement with Fayfa to purchase the animal and release him into the wild. Sadly, for this hyena, being released is not advisable, according to the Jeddah Veterinary Hospital. “These animals travel in packs. The length of time he has spent away from the wild has alienated him from other packs and he could be in danger from other hyenas,” the veterinarian said. “He also may not be able to fend for himself or hunt. Transferring him to a real zoo is an option, but the best thing for this hyena is to be put down.”
The hyena is not the only animal held in solitary confinement at Fayfa, but he is the animal which exhibits the most signs of stress.
