Have you seen any large spotted genets in your area or on your property? Are large spotted genets resting in your roof, garage or property? If your answer is ‘yes’, you can make a valuable contribution to the conservation of these animals.
Large spotted genets (Genetta tigrina) are small (1.5 to 3.2kg), exclusively nocturnal carnivores. Their body is elongated with spots and other dark markings that vary from black to a rusty colour, and they have a long white-ringed tail.
As land use changes, especially with expanding urban areas and human population, many animals are affected negatively. However, some, like large spotted genets, appear to be able to use and survive in urban environments and in particular appear to find refuge in suburbia for resting in during the day.
They also appear to make use of the artificial lights that attract their nocturnal insect prey.
To date, there is no published data on large spotted genets in urban areas. A MSc research project is being conducted by Craig Widdows (School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus) under the supervision of Professor CT Downs, on the home range and habitat use of large spotted genets in an urban landscape. We would be grateful for any sightings or feedback that you may have on large spotted genets in the greater Durban area.
If you have genets on your property or information about them, please contact Craig Widdows on 083 781 8725 or e-mail craigw@hotmail.co.za.
Look at that beautiful tail! These quiet creatures are a wonderful sight in the garden
Highway Hospice
Kloof and Highway SPCA
Hi Craig,
I saw the article about the Spotted Genets in the Mercury, we have a spotted genet living in our roof, which has been there for the past 2 or 3 years. I am assuming that it is the same genet.
I see it most evenings when it comes out of the roof to go off on it’s nightly travels. We have three large dogs, and they unfortunately see it too, it will sit on the roof until we take the dogs inside for their dinner and the genet can go off in peace. Occassionally, there is a lot of noise in the roof in the early hours of the morning.
We had 1 of our dogs already and it was quite used to the noises and movement in the roof, however, we brought the other 2 home (rescue dogs) and of course the smell of the genet and movement in the roof drove them crazy, so, I decided that perhaps it was best to have the genet captured and relocated. But,…. the “professional capturer” put a cage in the roof with some juicy titbits, and the genet enjoyed the food but refused to be captured. So….. we removed all cages and let it be and taught the dogs (after some sleepness nights) that the genet was part of the package of the new home.
We fondly refer to it as “our kitty”. We did some research on it, and found out, of course, that it was in fact part of the Mongoose family, is this correct?
We live on the edge of the Krantzkloof Conservation Area, in Kloof, of which, the surrounding area has been largely developed in the last 10 years.
Regards
Mez
Thank you very much for that information. Thats amazing news and Im happy to hear its apart of the home. Yes is in the mongoose family (Viverrid).
Please may you send me your address so I can add it to the sightings map.
Kind Regards
Craig Widdows
Hi Craig.I read your article in the mercury and thought I would tell you about our sighting of the genet.We live in Patrick Duncan Rd in Kloof and we have 2 guinea fowl that roost in a tree in our garden.About a month ago they suddenly flew out of the tree at about 9 pm and on further investigation we found this spotted genet sitting on one of the branches.It stayed there for quite a while before slowly climbing down the tree.The same thing happened about a year ago.I have no idea whether he lives on the property or wether he knows that the guina fowl roost in the same place every night and is hoping to catch them off-guard.I hope this info is useful and good luck with your research.
Hi Kim, thanks for your feedback. It’s much appreciated!