Worming Rock Hyrax

We had to catch up our group of Rock Hyrax to give them a treatment for internal parasites which was identified on our most recent set of faecal samples. 

Rock Hyrax are small tailless mammals and although they resemble a guinea pig, are more closely related to elephants and manatee. They are found living in colonies of 2-26 individuals in rocky habitats in Africa. They are extremely agile and excellent climbers with rubber-like pads on their feet to help provide them with good grip.

Whilst we were catching up the Rock Hyrax we had the opportunity to undertake a thorough health check, take weights and check that their microchips were working and correct. The Hyrax were treated with an oral medication called Panacur at a dose rate of 0.2ml per 1kg of body weight.

The Hyrax are only caught up and handled if necessary- they are a fast and ‘flighty’ animal and we want to ensure they exhibit natural behaviours so therefore we wouldn't want them to become domesticated. A safe and easy restraint solution was incorporated into the design of the enclosure which meant restraint can be quick and stress levels reduced.

All individuals can be encouraged into the inside enclosure and secured within there. Once there, a single animal can be coaxed into the bottom exit hatch which is formed by a tunnel. A net is placed at the end of the tunnel and the individual can be caught with relative ease. This not only reduces the stress on the animals but can limit the amount of time we need to be in the enclosure and will reduce the risk of injury to the animal during catch up.   

The group of three have settled in well and can be seen within the Africa Zone on the unit climbing over the custom rock work and branches that make up the enclosure.