Johannesburg Wildlife Vet cares thanks the public for their support as they care for genets
FOURWAYS – The baby genets all need to be handraised and bottle-fed on special milk formula, as they were all too small to be eating by themselves.
The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital in Glenferness is currently caring for one adult and four baby agents.
Part-owner and senior veterinarian at the hospital Dr Karin Lourens explained that the adult genet was confiscated from a zoo, while the other four babies include three siblings between two and a half and three months old and another baby which is roughly a month and a half old.
“The three siblings were found in a member of the public’s garden in Pretoria. The first one was found in the swimming pool and the second two in the garden,” said Dr Lourens.
“The member of the public took them in overnight and called the SPCA in the morning, who collected them and brought them through to our hospital.”
She said the hospital consulted with the member of the public who found the genets and established that it was not possible to reunite the babies with their mother.
She added that the fourth genet was brought to the hospital by a member of the public after their cat had found the genet. “Two efforts were made, one that night, and one the following night, to reunite him with his mother, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“Lourens said that he was then introduced to the other three genets. “They all get on really well, despite there being a small age gap.”
The baby genets all need to be handraised and bottle-fed on special milk formula, as they were all too small to be eating by themselves.The three siblings have been weaned onto solid food and are currently enjoying a natural genet diet, while the youngest genet is still on milk formula, but is being offered solids.
Lourens thanked members of the public for their efforts to aid in the genets’ rescue and for donating towards their food.She said the genets will only be released back into the wild once they are fully self-sufficient and able to hunt and defend themselves.
Members of the public are urged to support the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital by donating items on their wish list (which is available on www.johannesburgwildlifevet.com) or donate financially towards the running costs of the non-profit organisation.
