The Red Data List, which catalogues every species on Earth with worryingly low population numbers, defines ‘Threatened’ as somewhere below endangered and vulnerable.
Count yourself lucky, then, if you see some of the most charismatic animals in South Africa that are threatened with extinction – the brown hyena, serval cat and the tough honeybadger.
A Cat on Stilts
Of all South Africa’s ‘small wild cats’, the serval is the biggest. And with its ramp-model long legs and satellite-dish ears, it’s probably the easiest to recognise.
Servals, like most cats, eat rodents and easily rip birds from the air. Unlike most cats, though, they live and hunt around wetlands, and have been spotted fossicking about in ponds for hours. They even catch fish.
Wet feet
Servals live in the tall grass beside water sources. Often they can’t see their prey, so they rely on their enormous ears to pinpoint the tiny noises made by rodents in the undergrowth.
Then they use their long legs to leap high and far. Servals are phenomenally accurate, usually coming down with both front feet on their unsuspecting prey.
Serval duels
You’d be extremely lucky to see it, but servals have a rather quaint way of settling territory disputes. Instead of an old-fashioned catfight, two males usually opt for a glaring competition.
One may poke the other one in the chest with his front paw. His opponent will bob his head, never losing eye-contact, and poke back. The stare-off seldom ends in violence.
Shaggy Dog
At first glance, you may mistake a brown hyena for a skulking German shepherd. It’s roughly the same size, with a square muzzle, big teeth and those sloping hindquarters. But the enormous mantle of striped hair gives it away.
Brown hyenas are usually seen scavenging alone, but they live in clans. They prefer desert areas and are mostly found in South Africa’s driest northwestern regions.
A Veritable Smorgasbord
Like most scavengers, hyenas are unfussy eaters. They mostly gnaw on cheetah, lion or leopard kills, and can sniff out something edible from two kilometres away. But they’re more adaptable than the more carnivorous spotted hyenas. No meat today? Then they’ll make do with wild berries, or the odd beetle. No water? Then a juicy tsama melon will do just fine.
Brown hyenas do hunt the odd animal, but seem to blunder onto it, and are apparently unfamiliar with the concept of stalking.
The Beachcomber
On South Africa’s west coast, they are creatures of legend. Called Strandlopers (beach walkers), some people believed them to be a completely new species.
Not surprising, really, since the coastal winds matt their manes into dreadlocks, making them seem larger than normal. And maybe they are – they thrive on a diet of marine snacks washed up to the high water mark.
Tough Honey-lover
If there were a contest for the strongest, most indomitable, courageous, persistent can-do creature, a honey badger would win paws down.
Also called a ratel, honey badgers have a low-slung, two-tone appearance, whitish-grey on top and black underneath. One scientist compared its fast gait to that of a cantering dachsund.
Do Not Touch
But don’t dare laugh. Their main defence is attack, no matter how big and scary the adversary is. Most animals keep clear of them because they back up their chutzpah with a powerful bite, sharp claws and a loose, thick skin that allows them to twist around and bite attackers back.
Scourge of Snakes
Honey badgers don’t even hesitate to tackle snakes – in fact they’ll often eat what the snake may have been preying on, and then go for the snake as main course.
If they’re bitten, even by a highly poisonous puff adder, they just fall unconscious for a few hours, then wake up and trot off to look for the next meal.
Following a Bird to Honey
The ratel’s scientific name is Mellivora capensis (roughly translated: honey-eater of the Cape). It adores the stuff. But most interesting is the relationship it has with the honey guide.
Scientists have confirmed the bird has a special call to indicate it has found a hive and lures either humans, baboons or ratels to the bees. The badger follows the bird, making growling-chuckling noises.
Once at the hive, the badger rips it open and gorges on the honey, its thick skin fairly impervious to stings. Only after its invited guest has left does the honey guide bird indulge in the leftovers.
Links:
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: www.iucnredlist.org
Serval:
Brown hyena:
Honey Badger: