Genet Cat hunting in Cameroon

Genet cats look more like a weasel than a cat and belong to the mongoose family. Both the Small-spotted (Common) Genet and Large-spotted Genets occur in Cameroon. Apart from the size of the spots on their bodies, the Small-spotted Genet has a white tip to its tail and the Large-spotted Genet, has a black-tipped tail. Hunters do not necessarily select which of the two subspecies they would like to shoot and in most cases, these animals are hunted as a trophy of opportunity. Genets are nocturnal so rarely seen moving during the day. A hunter is most likely to come across one of these animals asleep in the hollow of a tree or disguised amongst the tree’s branches. Their diet is made up of small mammals, like rats, mice and birds. They are often seen at night in the hunting camps looking for scraps that may have been left on the dinner table. They are normally killed on site by the local people especially those who keep chickens. A Genet can cause extensive damage in a chicken coop. Classified as a species of least concern by the IUCN, no special export permits are required.