See also : Wildlife highlights, The Soysambu mammals checklist,
The Soysambu birds checklist, The Soysambu amphibian checklist
The Soysambu birds checklist, The Soysambu amphibian checklist
One member of the wildlife cast that visitors cannot fail to see, are the hyrax that scurry around the lava-stone walls and come to the terrace for fruit and water.
Endearing and amusing, the hyrax are a highlight of the camp, and more information is provided on them below:
The Hyrax
The elephant’s smaller cousin
The camp is home to both Rock and Tree Hyrax, the most commonly seen around camp, however, are the Rock Hyrax, which live amongst the lava-stone walls, and are particularly fond of the terrace of Ututu House.
One of the best-loved anecdotes of safari-guides concerns the fact that the hyrax is the elephant’s closest living relative: a fact that is guaranteed to stun most visitors. Whether or not it is true; remains open to debate. Hyrax do, however, share such elephantine features as teats between their forelegs, a long gestation period (seven-and-a-half months), blunt feet with rounded-nailed toes, and upper incisors that have been modified into mini-tusks, which are, apparently, visible when they yawn. They also have very good memories. Just as well, since they have been around for a very long time: the hyrax first appears in the fossil record over 40 million years ago when, unnervingly, some of them were as big as a horse.
Hyrax-style
The word hyrax means ‘shrewmouse’. Hyrax belong to the order Hyracoidea, the family Procaviidae, and the genus Dendrohyra, and are known as Pimbi in Swahili. Strangely, hyrax may be responsible for the naming of modern-day Spain. Apparently, the early Phoenician navigators mistook the rabbits of the Iberian Peninsula for hyrax (which, in Hebrew is Shaphan); hence they named it I-Shapan-im, meaning ‘land of the hyrax’, which possibly became the Latin word ‘Hispania’, the root of Spain's modern Spanish name España, and the English name ‘Spain’.
Hyrax-habitat
Hyrax occur mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, but Cape Rock Hyrax also occur in the Middle East. Tree Hyrax live in forests; Rock Hyrax in plains, mountains, forest and savanna.
Hyrax-hotspots: Hyrax are present in most of Kenya’s national parks, but are best spotted in Hell’s Gate and Nakuru National Parks. Viewing tip: you can spot active Rock Hyrax colonies by looking out for the white urine stains, which streak the boulders around their habitat.
Hyrax-sustainability
Scientists have recently reduced the number of distinct species of hyrax from the eleven species recognized as recently as 1995 to the four species recognized today. They are: the Southern Tree Hyrax, the Western Tree Hyrax, the Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax and the Cape Hyrax. Many of the fifty sub-species of the above are endangered.
Hyrax-spotting
Variously described as football-sized guinea pigs, well-fed rabbits, and conservatively-sized corgis, hyrax are furry, brownish-grey and plump with a stumpy-to-non-existent tail, enquiring gaze, sharp rat-like teeth (which can deliver a ferocious nip), and rubbery foot pads on their elephant-toed feet, which generate sweat so as to allow them to ‘stick’ to rocky outcrops or trees.
Hyrax-life
Aggressively territorial, hyrax live in colonies of between 10 to 60 animals and spend much of their time sunning themselves or chasing each other in play. Social and gregarious, they sleep together in shaggy piles to keep warm and safe from predators (they are the preferred snack of Verreaux’s eagle, leopard, genet and rock python). Hyrax are infamous for their spine-chilling screams (Rock Hyrax call on moonlit nights, Tree Hyraxes utter penetrating screams shortly after dark), which are emitted either as a ‘keep away’ warning or as a ‘come-on’ mating call. Hyrax live up to twelve years.
Hip-hyrax
Hyrax colonies are sub-divided into small family groups, which are dominated by a single male; the really lucky males, however, get to dominate multiple groups of females, while the weaker males must live solitary lives beyond the boundaries of the colony. If they’re lucky they may occasionally be allowed to mate with younger females.
Hyrax-serendipity
The musky scent of the Cape Rock Hyrax, known as ‘hyraceum’ is used as a traditional medicine and perfume.
