Genets are mongoose-like animals in the family Viverridae, order Carnivora. They are related to the African and Asian palm civet, linsang, binturong and fossa of Madagascar.

These animals are found in Africa south of the Sahara desert, in the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, and in southern Europe.

Although classified as carnivores, they are omnivorous and will eat what is most readily available. This can include small mammals, birds and their eggs, frogs, millipedes, centipedes, scorpions, and even fruits.

Genets are very acrobatic. They are considered arboreal and climb trees to hunt birds; however, they also spend much time on the ground hunting prey and taking shelter in escarpments and rocky outcrops. They are able to squeeze their flexible bodies through any opening larger than their heads.

About a year ago, Wildlife ACT volunteers photographed a genet nicknamed Genet Jackson riding on a buffalo as well as a white rhino.

“News of the genet spread quickly and the images raised many questions as to what the genet might be trying to achieve by acting this way,” they explained.

“Some believed it was merely trying to gain a height advantage, while others thought it might be doing this as a way of catching prey and some suggested the genet might just be lazy and was catching a ride from these bigger mega-herbivores.”

“We have learnt through the years never to assume that we know exactly what is going on in the bush, so any of these scenarios could have been likely.”

Now, Genet Jackson has been filmed riding on a critically endangered black rhino.

“Intrigued beyond belief we teamed up with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and our headline sponsors Rhino Africa to get some video footage of this genet and the strange behavior it was displaying. It was a fabulous success and we were able to catch the genet, this time trying to hitch hike, on the back of a very grumpy black rhino,” Wildlife ACT volunteers said.

“In this clip you can clearly see the genet hawking insects from the back of this black rhino.”

“Whether or not the genet is also picking ticks from off the rhino and buffalo it is riding is still unclear.”

“Funnily though this genet’s ride is interrupted by the black rhino being spooked by something it smells or sees and Genet Jackson manages to stay on, Rodeo style! This grumpy rhino certainly didn’t make things easy for our hitch hiking friend.”