What are your favourite rodents ?

Side note: bearded vulture is being reintroduced in the Alps, and such mixes are part of the education, that they do not harm live animals, so are no danger to farmers. That is also why the vultures name was changed from the traditional Lammergeier - lamb vulture.

 

That's great to hear !

Bearded vultures are my favourite of the old world vultures and it's brilliant to hear that they are being reintroduced.

Is that really the reason for that mixed species exhibit ?

I thought it was just to highlight native Alpine wildlife but I'm even more impressed by it now.

 

Oh god lol !

 

most importent day of the year, and no. It is a real day, I didn't made it up.

 

Capybara worship day

Now there needs to be an official Malagasy giant jumping rat day for good measure

 

My favourite rodent so far is the Crested rat (Lophiomys imhausi). Followed by pacarana. Four-toed jerboa, big-headed mole rat and certain colour morph of the Variegated squirrel are close runner-ups.

 

Thanks for sharing @Kakapo !

Interesting choice !

Why the crested rat ?

 

Certainly the spinifex hopping mouse, with rakali not far behind.

 

Thanks for sharing @animal_expert01 !


Why these species in particular ?

Could you elaborate a little more ?

 

I have a soft spot in my heart for Springhare... Interesting story actually:


Where I grew up in the North-West of South Africa the practice of hunting for springhare in the night is is common, once you catch one you smack it against a rock ti'll it's dead. I use to go with my cousins but I never participated and just watched. I always felt bad for the cute little guys. So that's way I like them... out of pity for them

 

Thanks for sharing @Nix !

Interesting choice and reason for choosing.

That's interesting to hear as I didn't know it was a common species to hunt in SA.

Why is the springhare hunted ? I mean is it just recreational or is it for their meat or because of them being crop pests ?

 

Sadly, Recreational.

 

I'm guessing it's at night with torches or lamps of some kind ?

 

Correct.

 

They may hesitate to pull the trigger if they saw them using a UV light

Springhares Glow Orange and Red under Ultraviolet Light | Biology | Sci-News.com

 

Anything would look scary glowing red

 

are the springhare eaten after hunting ?

 

Fed to our dogs or just thrown out.

 

also just so you know, I don't support hunting springhare for fun