Fine-scale movements and use of space by spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) on Ongava Game Reserve, Namibia

We deployed Global Positioning System (GPS) collars on spotted hyaena, Crocuta crocuta, on Ongava Game Reserve in northern Namibia. We analysed the movement profiles recorded from three periods of fine temporal scale (15 min interval) GPS data - dry season data from a sub-adult female (36 days) and a lactating adult female (54 days), and wet season data from the same adult female (55 days). The hyaenas both had similar daily activity patterns - at rest between 12.00 and 18.00 hours, with a peak of activity in the 2-h period around sunrise. They exhibited one or two active periods each night, travelling up to 30 km and being active for up to 10 h. Daily rest sites were widely distributed across the reserve, typically located on elevated ground and never revisited on consecutive days. In the dry season, both hyaenas made extensive use of the reserve, plus adjacent areas in Etosha National Park (sub-adult home range 240 km(2), adult home range 366 km(2)). The wet season data for the adult female showed a significant reduction of space used (home range 232 km(2)). However, their utility distributions showed a nonuniform use of space, with multiple areas of high-density utilization located away from open terrain.