Who is The New Hyena Noubia at Yorkshire Wildlife Park?

There's some exciting news coming from the award-winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park. A new spotted hyena has just arrived, all the way from Belgium, with big hopes pinned on her. Her name is Noubia, she’s ten years old, and she’s here to meet the park’s resident male, Speedy. It’s not just a casual meet-and-greet, though. This introduction is a key part of a massive Europe-wide breeding programme designed to protect this incredible species.

A new face in the reserve

Making a big move is always a bit nerve-wracking, even for a hyena. Noubia travelled all the way from Belgium to her new home at the park, a move carefully planned to help the spotted hyena population. While they aren't officially a threatened species just yet, their numbers in the wild are sadly going down. So, conservation efforts like this are super important. Noubia has joined Speedy in the expansive Experience Ethiopia reserve, an area of the park designed to feel just like the semi-desert flats of Africa. When she first arrived, she was understandably a little cautious. Who wouldn't be after a long journey?

Director of Animals, Dr Charlotte MacDonald, explained how the team took great care to make her feel at home.

“When Noubia first arrived, she took her time coming out of her transport crate but was calm when she came out. She was taking meat from rangers, who fed her through the mesh, almost immediately, and now seems to be very confident.”

It sounds like she’s settling in brilliantly, which is exactly what everyone was hoping for. The success of these breeding efforts often starts with making sure the animals feel safe and secure in their new environment.

How do you introduce two hyenas?

So, how do you even introduce two powerful animals like that? You can’t just let them into the same space and hope for the best. The team at Yorkshire Wildlife Park has it down to a fine art. They are experts in managing complex animal introductions. The introduction, which took place on Wednesday, was handled very carefully.

Dr Charlotte MacDonald described the process:

“Noubia was initially released into one half of the reserve and Speedy in the other half.”

“Everything looked really promising and they had very positive body language through the fence.”

“Now they are in the reserve together, running around and playing. They are getting on really well. We are delighted with how quickly Noubia has settled in.”

This is fantastic news for the future of the hyena pair and the wider conservation goals.

Hope for a new hyena clan

The main reason for bringing Noubia to the park is the hope that she and Speedy will hit it off and eventually start their own family. This is all part of a coordinated, Europe-wide breeding programme. These programmes are basically a giant, continent-wide dating service for animals in zoos and wildlife parks. They help ensure that the captive population of a species stays healthy and genetically diverse, acting as a safety net if wild populations get into serious trouble. The hope is that this new pair will form their own clan. In the world of the spotted hyena, it’s the females who run the show.

Dr Charlotte explained the unique social structure:

“We are hopeful that Noubia and Speedy can contribute to breeding efforts for the species and form their own clan. Each clan has a dominant female and only in exceptional cases will these clans be led by males.”

If Noubia becomes the matriarch of a new clan at the park, it will be a massive success for the breeding programme and for the protection of this fascinating species.

That famous hyena laughter

When people think of a hyena, they often think of their famous ‘laugh’. But what does it actually mean? It’s not quite like human laughter. Spotted hyenas have a surprisingly complex way of communicating, with a range of at least 12 different sounds. These vocalisations are a key part of their social life. That well-known cackling sound can be heard from over five kilometres away. A hyena usually makes this call when it’s feeling a mix of excitement and nerves, maybe when it’s found food and wants to alert the rest of the clan, or when it’s showing it submits to a more dominant hyena. It’s less about finding something funny and more about communicating important social information. So next time you hear a hyena ‘laugh’, you’ll know there’s a lot more going on.

More than just a hyena reserve

While the spotlight is on Noubia and Speedy right now, they are part of a much bigger family at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The park is home to some of the world’s most amazing and at-risk animals. A visit gives people the chance to see incredible creatures and learn about the conservation work being done to protect them. The walk-through experience brings visitors incredibly close to a whole host of animals. Here are just a few of the other key species living at the park:

• Amur Leopards
• Tigers
• Black Rhinos
• Polar Bears
• African Painted Dogs

Each of these species faces threats in the wild, from habitat loss to poaching. Parks like Yorkshire Wildlife Park play a huge role not just in educating the public but also in global conservation and breeding efforts. The arrival of a new hyena is a perfect example of how these parks contribute to protecting wildlife for future generations. The journey of Noubia and Speedy is just beginning, and many are excited to see their new clan take shape.