SANParks.org Forums

Lesser Bushbaby
(Galago moholi)

Ger: Moholigalago
Fre: Galago Moholi
Afr: Nagapie
Xho, Zul: Sinkwe

Mass: 150-230g.
Tail length: 20-26 cm.
ID Pointers:
- Dark rings around eyes.
- White stripe on nose.
- Bushy tail, longer than body.
- Moves in a kangaroo-like gait.
Lifespan: +/- 4 yrs.
Predators:
1. Civet
2. Genets
3. Large Owls
4. Serval
5. African Wild Cat
6. Snakes
7. Leopard
8. Caracal
9. Chacma Baboon
10. Eagles.
Scent glands: Chest, lips, cheeks, perenial.
Senses: Very good.

DISTRIBUTION IN KNP:
Widely distributed, but uncommon.

BEHAVIOUR:
Nocturnal, arboreal, sleeps in groups of 6-7. Territories are from 0,04-2,3 km2. Both sexes are territorial. Love grooming themselves & urine washing. Sleep in broad-leaved & birds' nests, tree forks & hollow trees.
Calls: Croaks, clicks, squeaks, coos, barks, sobs, chatters, rasps, grunts, shrill whistles, yaps, wails & mournful screaming.

REPRODUCTION:
2 Infants of 9-12g are born after a gestation of 4 months. Breed biannually.

FOOD:
Grasshoppers, tree sap & gum, fruits, seeds, flowers, small birds, insects & eggs. Water independent.

HABITAT:
Open savanna woodland, bushland & riverine areas.

Sources:
- Field Guide to the mammals of the Kruger National Park by Heike Schutze.
- Field Guide to the larger mammals of Africa by Chris & Tilde Swart.

Found in the following SANParks:
- Kruger National Park.

Hi Mark, the only one I saw was one afternoon sitting quietly on the wooden benches next to the fence at Orpen when the little fellow unexpectedly stuck his head out of one of the hollow metal fence poles. Definitely a sight to remember, didn't have my camera with me unfortunately.

Quite common in the Midrand and PTA areas her is Gauteng.

On a trip as a student to Tanzania years ago, heard them in various reserves - amazing screaming and wailing at night. Can't say I have ever heard them in the Kruger, though both species are said to be resident.

Richard

Yes, both the Thick-tailed Bushbaby (Greater Galago / Bosnagaap) and the Lesser Bushbaby (Lesser Galago / Nagapie) are present in Kruger. I have seen both species.

There are a lot of the larger Thick-tailed Bushbaby in Skukuza personnel village. It is them you refer to Richard. They scream like a little child.

The Lesser Bushbaby sounds like a bird calling at night. They are much more agile than the Thick-tailed Bushbaby, and can leap amazing distances between branches.

We used to have a large Acacia karoo (Soetdoring) in our garden in Pretoria and the Lesser Bushbabies would visit it nightly to feed on the sap.

Saw a pair at Biyamiti last year (July) early in the morning. They emerged into a hole in a tree - possibly where they sleep during day time.

I have 9 resident bushbabies who made their home (or I should rather say "nest") in a large leadwood tree, in my backyard, next to my lapa

I had to go search far for this thread!

We have at least one bushbaby in the yard - having seen only one at any one time, and not often, only a couple of times. And seldom hear them as well.

Here's where they stay, which we unfortunately have to start taking down.

From the one side:


The other side:


From below:


That mess has become so heavy that it is pulling the one tree down, lifting the paving and soon the stoep as well, since that's where the roots are. If it falls it takes the wall between us and the neighbour. So I started cutting it down as can be seen in the first photo. Saturday neighbour had some workers with chainsaws in there on his side to trim down that side as well. That probably had something to do with it as well.

This evening, having picked the kids up after chess at school, arriving at the front gate, I saw something funny next to the road - thought it was a bird's wing flapping. Told my boy to see what it is. "It's a bushbaby!" he shouted.

Brought him to me, I took the car in, kept the dog away that wanted to get at him (he always does... ) and went in. Wrapped him warm and put him in an empty bird cage. Phone Gerhard Verdoorn - the only person that I can immediately think of that can help. He gives me a a couple of pointers and a vet's name in Pretoria. Try my luck and phone him. They're already closed but he's still there and speaks to me, telling me what to do - hopefully that will help.

When we picked him (actually, now that I think of it, I didn't even look whether it is a boy or a girl!) up he was sort of in a stupor.



As he got warmer he sorta came alive and very attentive, looking around and at every movement.



It seems as if something may be wrong with his back legs as he's not moving them yet. Doc says that can also be caused by dehydration, stress, cold ec. So now I'm giving him some rooibos with honey in every hour.



Here's to hoping he'll make it through the night.

I'm not interested in giving him to one of these "care" centres if I can prevent that at all - I want him to be released, not become a pet or be kept for breeding! Once he's recovered I'll release him back into the garden again, at the same time building him a little house or something as per Gerhard.

Marius, your bushbaby is enchanting. I do hope it survives and is able to enjoy your garden again!

I saw one clambering in a tree at night by the restaurant loookout over the Sabie River at Skukuza. It must have been a thick-tailed, because you could distinctly hear the child-like cries. That, strangely, is the only time I've seen them in the wild (bar night drives, but then they're not always entirely distinct in the oscillating torch light).

Quit alot of them in C circle in Letaba restcamp...always hear them fighting lol

I was sitting with my wife and children and watching a nightape.

We were amazed to see how quickly and how far this little animal can jump through the trees.

My youngest son asked me how any animal would be capable of catching such a swift and athletic creature.

I understand that snakes, leopards and other animals can catch it but how ?

Has anyone seen a nightape caught ?

Are you talking about a bush baby Niceone?

Not the big bushbaby . The small one.