South Africa’s abundance of wildlife is admired and appreciated the world over. With a strong focus on the mighty Big Five, very little limelight is left for the smaller, yet equally as relevant and adorable, animals. Here we cast a spotlight on some of our country’s unsung animal heroes, which will definitely make you want to say ‘agh moeder‘.
Nagaapies, or bush babies
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These tiny creatures are without a doubt one of Africa’s most adorable creatures. If you have had the luck of seeing one up close, their big eyes will captivate your heart and their tiny hands will make you smile. These little guys often land themselves in predicaments which require human intervention, like falling out of nests or missing a jump. Wildlife hospitals across the country are known to have taken in a nagaapie or two.
Pangopups
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The Temminck’s ground pangolin is one of the four pangolin species found in South Africa. Their babies don’t promise hope for the future of the species but are simply too adorable for words.
Hippo calves
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Happening upon a hippo out of the water can really be quite perplexing. The pace with which these water-loving mammals move seems contradictory to their size. What can be even more baffling is seeing a fully grown adult hippo next to a calf. These tiny tots will make even the toughest person melt in adoration.
Cape dwarf chameleon
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These creatures are equally curious and endearing. Commonly found in residential gardens among other places in the Western Cape, these chameleons face a population threat. People pruning their gardens can unknowingly throw out Cape dwarf chameleons along with their garden waste. If you live in the Western Cape, be vigilant and check your disposable garden waste for any casualties and re-release them into your garden.
Aardvark
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While it is no easy feat to just find an aardvark in the wild, these nocturnal animals are just too sweet, resembling a pig, anteater and armadillo all at once. These nocturnal animals can make a mean underground burrow, where they generally spend their time sleeping and waiting out the sunnier hours.
Porcupines
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Another nocturnal beauty you won’t just find on any given day, quill pigs, or porcupines, are a feast for the eyes. These prickly rodents are a force to be reckoned with, especially when a pesky leopard tries to make a meal out of them.
Meerkats
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You could spend hours marvelling at a meerkat. These animals are incredibly interesting. Though they are small, with adults standing between 25–35 centimetres tall, meerkats sure know how to dig in to their meals. A fully grown meerkat can eat up to one kilogram of food a day.
Some adorable animals from around the world
The Arctic fox
Image: Unsplash
Tree kangaroo
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Kinkajous
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Slow loris
Fennec fox
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Image: Instagram/ johannesburgwildlifevet
