“Strange sighting in Morningside when I was on a walk and on the pavement there was this dead animal,” explained concerned resident Bernard Abro, who was not sure whether the animal was a small-spotted or large-spotted genet.
According to Nicci Wright in Orphan genets released into the wild, the senior animal manager for FreeMe Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, the differences between a small-spotted and large-spotted genet is the size of the spots on their coats and the colour on the tip of their tails. A small-spotted genet will have a white tipped tail while a large-spotted genet will have a black tipped tail, which is the one Abro found.
“To me it’s a mystery how it comes to be in a built up area,” added Abro.
“It was near a river and tree area.”
Wright said genets are extremely prevalent in Johannesburg. This following reports of the centre’s facilitation and release of three large-spotted genets into the grounds of Country Club Johannesburg. She explained, “There is no connection between the unfortunate dead genet, with our three which are still safe in our enclosure.”
Wright added that the genet found by Abro must have been run over. “Genets are endemic throughout Johannesburg suburbia as they are fairly arboreal, they are often sighted in areas which are well treed,” she said.
Jenny Moodley from City Parks said the genets at the Johannesburg Zoo are all accounted for. “We however appeal to residents who have sightings of wildlife that have the potential to be in harm’s way, to please contact the Joburg Zoo,” she added.
Read more on the facilitation and release of three large-spotted genets into the grounds of Country Club Johannesburg here.
Tell the Sandton Chronicle, in the comments below, what other facts you know about the large-spotted genet.
