Popcorn, a dwarf rock hyrax, also called dassies, was rescued and brought to Michèle Merrifield, one of the founders of Daktari, for a second chance at life. Bastien Dufaur, community manager at Daktari told the Herald that he fell in love with the “little tyke” when he arrived at Daktari. At the time Popcorn was under the care of another long-term volunteer. “Slowly I managed to get him to come to me, sit with me, and start to trust me.
Needless to say, when Sam, his “daddy”, had to leave, I immediately agreed to take over his care. “I want to emphasise that Popcorn is not my pet, I am his caretaker, and he rules. He is free to wander around camp as he sees fit, but due to his size, he needs to be watched as he would make a very nice snack for a bird of prey,” Bastien said. He said that Popcorn is an ornery little bundle if he does not know you and you try to touch him, he will give you his “dassie warning” noise and then bite.
“His teeth may be small but they are as sharp as needles and he can draw blood. To top it all, not only is he deformed, he walks like a little old hunchback, and he is slightly retarded too! He has grown to trust me completely, even to the point that I can carry him around on my shoulders or in my arms, call him and he comes running,” said Bastien. “Dassies ‘talk’ and Popcorn ‘ talk’ to me with tiny little squeak noises. He can even use a toilet.” Popcorn sometimes gets what Bastien likes to call a brain bubble.
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“He suddenly starts to roll around and nibble at people, not to hurt them but in a playful way, he stretches himself out like a sausage and wiggles almost worm-like. It is such a funny sight.” “The other night I woke up to find him sleeping next to me like a human with his
head on the pillow. I got up to go to the bathroom, he did too, he got there first as he is faster than me. Once he was finished it was my turn, on the way back to bed he was waiting for me, he walked with me to the bed, I got back in on my side and he jumped in on the other side and promptly put his head on the pillow next to mine, just like a married couple.
“It was just so cute! Needless to say, I am totally in love with this little animal and completely devoted to him. What a wonderful privilege to have an animal love me as he does,” he concluded.
