Orphan genets released into the wild
WOODMEAD - FreeMe Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre cared for and facilitated the release of three large-spotted genets into the grounds of Country Club Johannesburg.
FreeMe, based in Paulshof, specialises in the rehabilitation of urban wildlife.
The genets story began on 18 December last year when Colin Wiseman, estate manager for Country Club Johannesburg brought a baby male genet to FreeMe. Wiseman had found the baby outside his den, which was in a palm tree, two days after his mother had been attacked and killed by the family dogs. The male kitten was severely dehydrated, cold and suffering from shock. The next day Wiseman returned to FreeMe with two more genet kittens as he had heard their cries coming from the palm tree and climbed the tree to rescue them.
All three kittens, one male and two female, were placed in foster care with trained FreeMe volunteer Michelle Watson for the critical early weeks. After 12 weeks of round-the-clock care, the siblings were placed in an outside enclosure on FreeMe’s premises so that they could exercise and develop independence. During this phase the genets were weaned onto their natural diet of dead mice, rats, birds and insects.
On 16 April the genets were released into the indigenous bush zone of Country Club Johannesburg, very close to where their original den had been.
Watch a video of the large-spotted genets acclimatising to their new surroundings:
Nicci Wright, senior animal manager for FreeMe, said the genets would need to be support-fed by Wiseman for the next few months, but as soon as they stopped returning for food it meant that they have started to hunt for themselves.
Wright explained that while many people have never seen a genet, they are actually extremely prevalent in Johannesburg. However, they are nocturnal animals which mainly live in trees. There are two types of genets, the small-spotted genet and the large-spotted genet, the differences between the two types are the size of the rosettes on their coats and the colour on the tip of their tails. A large-spotted genet will have a black tipped tail, while a small-spotted genet will have a white tipped tail. A fully grown large-spotted genet will weigh between five to seven kilograms.
Nikki Espley-Jones, head of marketing for Country Club Johannesburg, said the club was delighted to assist FreeMe where they could, because they believed FreeMe was doing an amazing job.
“We look forward to partnering with FreeMe in the future because we’ve got a great natural habitat on the property and would love to assist where we can,” she said.
