Survivor cub still under treatment; will be released in its natural habitat once okay
The RESQ CT team carrying out a medical examination of the hyena
A female striped hyena, which was critically injured in a road accident while pregnant, has been successfully treated and released into the wild after four weeks of intensive care. While her first cub died, her second newborn, delivered through an assisted procedure, is currently under specialised care at the RESQ Charitable Trust (RESQ CT) facility in Pune and will be rehabilitated and released into its natural habitat.
President of NGO RESQ CT, Neha Panchamiya, told mid-day that the hyena was safely secured and transported to the Wildlife Transit Treatment Centre (TTC) at Bavdhan, Pune, for emergency care on November 22, 2025. “On admission, the veterinary team initiated stabilisation and conducted a detailed medical examination, during which it was confirmed that a second foetus was still present. Assisted delivery was carried out, and a live but extremely weak cub was delivered,” said Panchamiya.
The cub that was saved. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
It may be noted that the mother had sustained severe head trauma and was unable to stand, see, or respond appropriately, rendering her incapable of feeding or caring for the cub. Both animals were therefore placed under round-the-clock veterinary and supportive care, housed separately. With sustained medical treatment and rehabilitation, the mother hyena gradually showed neurological and physical improvement, eventually regaining mobility and beginning to use her outdoor enclosure.
After four weeks of continuous treatment and rehabilitation, the hyena made a full recovery. Following a final health assessment, she was declared medically fit and, as per instructions from the Maharashtra Forest Department, released back into a suitable habitat on December 26, 2025.
“The cub continues to receive intensive neonatal care and close monitoring of growth and development. A structured rehabilitation plan with defined milestones has been put in place. There is established precedence of striped hyena cubs being successfully hand-reared and reintroduced into the wild, and based on this experience, the long-term objective remains successful reintroduction of this cub, subject to meeting all behavioural and physiological benchmarks,” added Panchamiya.
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