This striking Large Spotted Genet made its debut on the reserve just this month. Dr. De Graaf rescued this little fellow after finding it emaciated with a bite wound.
When Willem Burger, our wildlife vet, opened its travel case, the genet, initially reserved and cautious, took its time acclimating to its new surroundings outside of the familiar travel case. With a nocturnal lifestyle, these creatures typically emerge around sunset, becoming active as the evening sets in.
Resembling cats in appearance, they possess long, slender bodies, short legs, and a distinctive lengthy tail. Their characteristic mode of movement, keeping their bodies close to the ground, is a hallmark trait of the Genet.
During daylight hours, you might catch sight of this Genet resting comfortably in trees. While they are adept at both terrestrial and arboreal locomotion, they prefer to hunt and forage on the ground. Territory marking is accomplished through the secretion from their anal sacs, while designated latrine sites are used for defecation.
Under the cover of darkness, Genets spring into action, employing a blend of speed and stealth in their hunts. They may pause intermittently, emitting hisses or growls when feeling stressed. Olfactory signals likely play a pivotal role in their social dynamics and reproductive cycles. When navigating branches, they maintain a low profile, deftly swinging their legs laterally to maintain balance.
Genets are known as primitive cats.
While genets are indeed family cousins of the mongooses, they are more closely related to hyenas than cats.
Genets classified as part of the Viverridae family which are are commonly regarded as the closest living mammals to the extinct common ancestor of the carnivores.