Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Sykes' male with tail wound

This male was heard (at first) being pursued by another through a Karura-side Muthaiga garden along the Gitathuru River. He was vocalising continuously and seemed to be in quite a bit of distress. No wonder. Could the other male have inflicted something so serious to his tail? Or might he have survived a crowned eagle attack? Male Sykes have been recently seen holding off a hunting crowned with rushes, battings, and branch-shaking. Perhaps the eagle had enough. Any views?

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Help with mongoose ID

Caught the fellow shown on a camera trap along the Ruaka
River (KK17) in Karura Forest (only place where we've caught copyus BTW).

We only have slenders  on our list, but this fellow looks a bit larger and heavier like an Egyptian. Have added a bushbuck standing in the same spot for scale. Comments appreciated.


Friday, January 15, 2016

Mystery Mammal Along Ruaka River


UPDATE. Uh-oh. Spoke too soon. Evidence of copyu breeding? This appears to be a half-grown youngster following an adult.

This odd little fellow was caught running along the edge of the Ruaka River. Note time and date stamp. First reaction was an otter, but compared to other shots we've had of the African Clawless otter (Aonyx capensis), this one seems to be smaller, the conspicuous tail is missing (seems to have a rather stubby dark tail on in first two images), the nose is blunter and the ears higher up on the head. Neither is it very hyrax-like in shape of head; plus there is evidence in the middle clip of a tail. The consensus is coypu (nutria, river rat, Myocastor coypu).  We have learned that there is a residential plot upstream of Karura that has coypu's in a fishpond. It is not too far from two of the forest's watercourses, one of which is the Ruaka, so an escapee is not impossible. No further sightings on this cameral up till now (end Feb 2016).

Definitely Otters