Big eyes, big tails

Bushbabies are small, agile monkeys that become active after dark. They’re a large and diverse group of primates – new species are regularly discovered as people explore deeper into Africa’s forests. One of those species is the greater or thick-tailed bushbaby, and it’s the species that gives the family its name: Their haunting cry closely resembles the wail of a human child. The greater bushbaby (pictured) is the largest of all bushbabies in Africa – weighing just more than a kilogram. In my opinion, it’s also the most handsome… In a fluffy kind of way. In general, however, bushbabies are some of the smallest primates on earth. The Rondo bushbaby found in Tanzania, for example, weighs only 60 g! The greater bushbaby feeds on a variety of food, including insects, fruit and tree gum. It scrapes gum from the bark with its forward-pointing incisors and canines. It’s a sociable creature and several individuals will converge at a good food source. It’s also the least agile bushbaby and walks slowly along the branches. This makes it easy to observe, provided you can find it in the thickets of its preferred habitat. Female greater bushbabies and their young occupy set territories while the males roam across larger territories that intersect with the females’ territories. A dominant male will act aggressively towards other dominant males, but younger males, perceived as less of a threat, will be tolerated. They use an interesting method to mark their territory: They rinse their hands with urine and spread it as they stroll along branches. I’ve heard that the urine also improves their grip, but I’m not sure if this is true because other primates do just fine without it. Look for bushbabies in dense riverine vegetation across South Africa, especially when you’re camping in the Kruger Park. They are found in rest camps like Skukuza, Letaba and Punda Maria.