Aley, Mount Lebanon. October 6th, 2019. A mounted taxidermized hyena is seen inside a hunter shop in Lebanon, Misconceptions have led to fear of the striped hyena, the national animal of Lebanon. The animal is often illegally hunted despite his key role in the country´s ecosystem. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Aley, Mount Lebanon. October 6th, 2019. Rifles and ammunition supplies inside a hunter shop in Lebanon. The striped is the national animal, however, the hyena is still hunted and misunderstood, weathering hostility while cleaning the country they represent. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Hasbayya, Al Janub, Lebanon. October 13th, 2019. Oakland zoo. Hyena´s mark scratches on the wall of his cage inside Oakland zoo. Hyenas were being kept in an indoor concrete room about ten square meters, not suitable for their physical welfare or meeting psychological needs. This was just a barren, dark dirty cage covered in feces and bird feathers. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Hasbayya, Al Janub, Lebanon. October 13th, 2019. Oakland zoo. A Striped Hyena lies on the floor inside Oakland zoo. Hyaena is Lebanon’s national animal. Smaller than sub-Saharan Africa’s spotted hyena, it has a prominent black and white mane that, when raised, gives it the air of having been electrocuted while trying to transform into a zebra. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
ZaZoo City, South-East Beirut, Lebanon. October 5th, 2019. Plastic animals at the main gate of Zazoo City. Animal protection agencies have set international standards for the treatment and living conditions of animals in zoological gardens. But animal rights groups and veterinarians maintain that these standards are not adhered to in Lebanese zoos. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
ZaZoo City, South-East Beirut, Lebanon. October 5th, 2019. Hyena in captivity in a zoo behind bars. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Aley,Lebanon. October 6th, 2019. Animal Encounter. A picture shows Dr Mounir Rachid holding Stripey, a female striped hyena that was born at the center in 2006 during the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Kfar Toun, Lebanon. October 10th, 2019. Portrait of Dr Mounir Rachid while he gets ready inside his Land Rover to start his night ride for detecting bats and hyena in the mountains. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Kfar Toun, Lebanon. October 10th, 2019. Dr Mounir Rachid is seen at the roof of his old Land Rover, scanning a spotlight over the landscape. Warm fog swirls in the headlights. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Kfar Toun, Lebanon. October 11th, 2019. Dr Mounir Rachid climbs his old Land rover during the sunrise at the mountains after a long night searching for bats and Hyenas. Dr Mounir Rachid has been studying the striped hyena since 1993 and conducted the first study of the animal in the Arab region. He documented the effects of urbanization on the animals and how they can prevent disease. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Kfar Toun, Lebanon. October 11th, 2019. Portrait of Dr Mounir Rachid inside his old Land Rover at the mountains after being almost the whole night looking for bats and Hyenas. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Kfar Toun, Lebanon. October 12th, 2019. Portrait of Dr Mounir Rachid during his research on bats and hyaenas at the mountains of Lebanon. Lebanon is heavily developed, and at its narrowest point it is just 20 miles wide. But it shares borders with Israel, with which it is still technically at war, and Syria, where a protracted civil war continues. Working to track and protect the hyenas across a larger area would be almost impossible, even if the government were trying. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Aley,Lebanon. October 6th, 2019. Animal Encounter. A picture shows a 14-year-old drawing inside Dr Mounir Rachid´s residence. The hyena is an important part of the ecosystem, eating rotting meat and preventing the spread of disease. But they are elusive to the point of invisibility. While there are no figures available for their population size in Lebanon, the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as near-threatened, with their numbers decreasing. They are shot on sight out of fear or hunted for sport, though this is illegal. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Aley,Lebanon. October 6th, 2019. Dr Mounir Rachid caresses Stripey, a female striped hyena that was born at the center in 2006 during the war between Israel and Hezbollah at the Animal Encounter. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Aley, Lebanon. October 6th, 2019. Animal Encounter. A group of Lebanese visits Stripey, inside Dr Mounir Rachid ´s sanctuary “Animal Encounter”. Animal Encounter cares for injured animals and currently has two hyenas at its sanctuary in the town of Aley outside Beirut. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Kfar Toun, Lebanon. October 11th, 2019. Portrait of Dr Mounir Rachid during his research on bats and hyaenas at the mountains of Lebanon. Lebanon is heavily developed, and at its narrowest point it is just 20 miles wide. But it shares borders with Israel, with which it is still technically at war, and Syria, where a protracted civil war continues. Working to track and protect the hyenas across a larger area would be almost impossible, even if the government were trying. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Hasbayya, Al Janub, Lebanon. October 27th, 2019. Oakland zoo. Dr. Ian Sayers, a foreign vet, shoots tranquilizer darts with a blowgun to sedate the Hyenas inside the zoo. Animals Lebanon uses a network of international vets specialized in wildlife. There is no local vet expertise with wildlife in Lebanon. This is Dr. Ian Sayers second trip to Lebanon. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Hasbayya, Al Janub, Lebanon. October 27th, 2019. Oakland zoo. Dr. Ian Sayers, a foreign vet, and Jason Mier, executive director of Animal Lebanon examines the condition of one of the Hyenas inside the zoo after being released. The hyenas were moved to a privately-owned zoo in Hasbaya and kept in extremely poor conditions for the last six months. Based on the conditions of the animals the zoo owner turned the two hyenas over to the care of Animals Lebanon. Animals Lebanon uses a network of international vets specialized in wildlife. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
West Bekaa, Lebanon. October 27th, 2019. Hyenas “Freedom” and “Unity getting inside a special van of Animal Lebanon for being released into the Shouf Biosphere Reserve. “Freedom” and “Unity” were a priority as they had recently been captured, has a good chance of reintegrating into the wild population, and the longer they remain in those conditions at the zoo they will continue to suffer and reintroduction becomes more difficult or no longer an option. Over the years we have rescued a wide range of endangered animals, chimpanzees, monkeys, lions, tigers, bears, leopards, crocodiles, bird species, and ten hyenas. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Hasbayya, Al Janub, Lebanon. October 27th, 2019. Shouf Biosphere Reserve: Hyenas “Freedom” and “Unity being released by Animals Lebanon into the Shouf Biosphere Reserve as this is their natural habitat and the largest protected area in Lebanon to give them the best chance for long term survival. Animals Lebanon was founded in 2008 by a group of passionate young Lebanese, and have now been operating for 11 years. Jason Mier is the executive director of Animals Lebanon, Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES
Hasbayya, Al Janub, Lebanon. October 27th, 2019. Shouf Biosphere Reserve: Hyenas “Freedom” and “Unity being released by Animals Lebanon into the Shouf Biosphere Reserve as this is their natural habitat and the largest protected area in Lebanon to give them the best chance for long term survival. Animals Lebanon was founded in 2008 by a group of passionate young Lebanese, and have now been operating for 11 years. Jason Mier is the executive director of Animals Lebanon, Diego Ibarra Sánchez for THE NEW YORK TIMES