Grungie the Hyena (1999-2024)
Obituary
Grungie, a hyena, passed away in October at the Buffalo Zoo after spending his whole life in captivity.
Grungie, a male spotted hyena, died in late October at the Buffalo Zoo, the same zoo where he was bred in captivity almost 25 years ago. Grungie died just days before his 25th birthday.
Aside from six years spent at the Milwaukee Zoo from 2005 – 2011, captivity in the Buffalo Zoo was all Grungie ever knew. Grungie was used in the zoo’s breeding program, siring nine hyena cubs with a number of females during his captivity, primarily with Taz, a hyena also at the Buffalo Zoo. A cub of Taz and Grungie’s is still alive and in captivity at the Denver Zoo.
The Buffalo Zoo’s announcement of Grungie’s death on Facebook included a plan to continue working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) “on a plan for our hyenas in the coming months.” AZA’s animal breeding programs, misleadingly called “Species Survival Plan Programs”, prioritize maintaining a steady supply of new animals destined for lifetimes of captivity in zoos. The program does not often introduce or conserve animals in the wild as many people believe.
If you are interested in protecting animals while traveling and supporting animal-friendly attractions, we encourage you to avoid zoos and aquariums. Instead, visit and support accredited wild animal sanctuaries or Wildlife Heritage Areas to explore options for animal-friendly activities that do not perpetuate captivity.
