Monkeys

Two monkey species may be seen in the arboretum, the Vervet monkey or Black-faced guenon (Cercopithecus aethiops) and the Sykes’ monkey (Cercopithecus mitis).There are fewer Sykes’ monkeys in the arboretum than vervet. The vervet has a black face, with greyish-white fur around the face and on the chest and underside. The upper side is yellowish­-grey, with grey legs and a long, black-tipped tail. By contrast, the Sykes’ monkey is generally dark grey with a distinct white throat, chest patch and a reddish back.

  Sykes Monkey  (Cercopithecus aethiops)   Vervet Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis)
 

The varied habitats in the arboretum provide other foods that monkeys can eat. Vervets eat invertebrates found in the river, as well as grasshoppers, butterflies, caterpillars, pupae, ants, termites, beetles, fungi and left-over human food. These monkeys often feed on the ground and will raid gardens and cultivated crops.

Kenya Mole Rat

The little mounds of upturned soil that can be seen on the central lawns are made by a small burrowing rodent, the Kenya mole rat(Tachyoryctes ibeanus). It is about 20 cm long, has thick, brown fur, small eyes and ears, a very short tail and bright orange ­yellow front teeth. Distributed in the Kenyan highlands, northern Tanzania and Uganda, mole rats live underground in burrows and like to eat the roots of grasses, herbs and root crops. They generally come above ground at night or on overcast days, so they are unlikely to be seen. Owls, birds of prey, snakes, and feral cats are known to eat mole rats in the arboretum.

Four-toed hedgehog

The Four-toed Hedgehog (Erinaceus albiventris) is a small, black and white “ball” of spines, about 20 cm long, with a short tail.

Hedgehogs are insectivores closely related to shrews. The Four-toed hedgehog is found in western and eastern Africa and parts of southern Africa. A hedgehog can sleep through the dry season (aestivate) and live on its own fat. It is active at night and eats mainly insects, as well as fruit, roots, fungi, snails, frogs, lizards, snakes and birds’ eggs. In turn, hedgehogs are eaten by owls and dogs. Hedgehogs have been seen during the day in leafy litter, making for their burrow at the spreading base of an Araucaria tree.

Other mammals  

Other mammals, including the Greater galago, fruit bats, mongooses and squirrels, may also be seen in the arboretum. These are mostly nocturnal animals unlikely to be seen during the day.