Parenting in Nature is never easy, with multiple threats at every turn. Accordingly, wildlife like this genet has evolved strategies to reduce risks to its precious offspring.
Geena Wegner shared this touching footage with Latest Sightings. She filmed it while visiting South Africa’s MalaMala Private Game Reserve.
Watch the video now:
Hidden in the shadows
As we join Geena at the sighting, we see a small creature making its way along a wall. Although it is hidden in shadow, we can determine the species.
Its long, slender body and short legs tell us it is a genet, but we’ll have to wait until it comes into the light to determine which type. Genets are distant relatives of the mongoose family, with 16 species in Africa and one in Europe.
Mom on a mission
Moments later, Geena pans her camera to reveal another genet on the thatched roof of the building. It is an adult, and it looks at the camera with a hint of concern.
As you’ll soon see, it is on an important mission, and the fewer eyes that see it, the better. However, this individual seems to be habituated to humans, so she soon moves along.
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The tale of the tail tips
As her whole body comes into view, we see that it is a large-spotted, or Cape genet (Genetta tigrina). Its black tail tip differentiates it from the small-spotted, or common genet (Genetta genetta), which has a white tip.
Genets are solitary creatures that are most active at night. During the day, they tend to rest high in tree canopies before venturing out at dusk to hunt.
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As above, so below
Subsequently, she makes her way down the steep roof to where we saw the first genet. Genets are both arboreal and terrestrial, meaning they are active both in trees and on the ground.
Across these habitats, they prey on small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish. They occasionally supplement their diet with grass as a digestive aid and purgative.
Keeping the kids safe
After disappearing from view for a few moments, the genet re-emerges, revealing the purpose of her mission. From her mouth dangles an infant genet; the one we saw earlier.
This tells us the adult is a female, as males play no role in raising offspring. They give birth to litters of two in hidden cavities after a 70-day gestation.
As is likely the case here, the mother will occasionally move to a new den. She does this to prevent an accumulation of parasites and to reduce the risk of detection by predators.
As soon as the mother picks up her youngster, it instinctively relaxes and goes silent. This ensures that it can be transported with minimal fuss and risk.
Although not seen in this footage, the mother genet would later return for a second baby. What a privilege to see this devoted mother going about her duties without concern in the presence of humans.
