De Zeekoe- The Shy 5

The "Shy 5" are five small animals that cause great excitement when seen in the wild because it is so rare to see them. These animals are masters at elusiveness.  They duck and hide into burrows faster than most people can shout "Meerkat". The Meerkat, the Aardvark, the Porcupine, the Aardwolf and the Bat-eared fox are the famous Shy 5. All are nocturnal, except for the Meerkat.

The first time I saw a Porcupine I was surprised by its size. It was waddling around outside our cabin foraging for bulbs and anything we may have left on the braai. This member of the Shy 5 can weigh up to 16 kilograms and be as big as 60 cementers long. They defend themselves by stamping their feet on the ground and if that doesn't warn off predators they reverse quickly and drive their long quills into attackers. This is extremely painful.

Image courtesy of  National Geographic

The Aardvark is the strongest of the group. It looks almost pig-like and has a long nose which it uses to dig apart termite mounds. Its long slender tongue is used to lap up termites inside mounds. They dig burrows which other animals of the Shy 5 often make use of to hide from the heat or to escape danger. 

The Aardwolf is often mistaken for a hyena when first spotted but after proper evaluation it is obvious this is an Aardwolf. Their jaws are small with peg like teeth and they also feast on termites like the Aardvark. Often they loose teeth because of their badly shaped jaw but this makes little difference to their diet of soft insects and insect larvae. They defend themselves by puffing themselves up to look bigger and they make roaring sounds. 

The Bat - eared fox is one of the cutest of the Shy 5, although there is little competition with this motley crew. Also having a diet of insects they have huge ears to help them hear insects scurrying around under ground. Their fluffy bodies and tails and their mask-like hair around their eyes make them look like a villain sneaking around at night. With a jaw shape and fur that makes the Bat-eared fox look like it is always smiling, this little member of the Shy 5 has no problem wiggling its way into your heart when you finally get to see it. 

Image courtesy of Wild Facts

Last but definitely not least, the little Meerkat is a favourite amongst animal lovers. This pack animal spends all its time foraging for insects and bulbs. These extremely shy animals keep a look out one at a time while the other forage. They stand on their back legs and keep a watch out for predators and run into burrows at the first site of danger. 

Get the opportunity to see these creatures visit De Zeekoe  in Oudtshoorn.