From Bush to Bay: Bushbaby hitches a ride to Cape Town

In a truly unbelievable tale, a Capetonian travelling back from Johannesburg last month found that he had not only brought back memories of the festival he attended but also an adorable lesser bushbaby.

After a long road trip of 1400km from Jozi to Cape Town, a local resident was left gobsmacked after unloading his vehicle to find a large pair of beady and bewildered eyes staring back at him.

Following his shocking finding, the Capetonian man transported the little guy to The Cape of Good Hope SPCA’s Wildlife Unit. While under the care of the veterinary team, Maurice, as he has aptly been named, was provided with a full check-up.

"Apart from a slightly confused expression and an appetite to match his energy, he was in excellent health," shared the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.

While he was found to be in good health, the team at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA had additional concerns. Maurice was separated from his family, and lesser bushbabies do not naturally occur in Cape Town, making him one of a kind in the Mother City.

Facing the challenge of returning Maurice to his home and working alongside the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital, the two organisations were able to locate the colony that Maurice had unfortunately strayed from.

The colony was located near Fourways, and after securing the necessary permits for travel from Cape Nature, alongside assistance from local carrier Airlink, Maurice travelled by plane back home.

Maurice travelled back to his family before Heritage Day.

With numerous teams coming together to ensure that Maurice was safely reunited with his loved ones, Belinda Abraham, spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, shares: “What wonderful tribute to the day it was to send Maurice back home and how better to celebrate it than with a show of unity for the protection of our natural heritage.“

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA outlines that releasing wild 'stowaways' into unfamiliar habitats is dangerous and can be a threat to biodiversity, a disease risk, and also pose severe survival challenges to the animals hitching a ride, stating that "without their colony, familiar food sources, and safe habitats, the chances of survival are slim".

What to do if you find 'wild stowaways' 

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has advised that the first call of action if you find a wild animal that has hitched a ride with you is to contact the SPCA's Wildlife Department for assistance on 021 700 4158/9.

Time Out Insider Bonus - 4 interesting facts about bushbabies 

1. Bushbabies were given their name due to their distinctive call that sounds like a baby crying.
2. While their eyes might be adorable and rather large, they have a key function which enables them to see in near-total darkness.
3. Small but mighty, these little guys can leap up to 2.5 metres due to their powerful hind legs.
4. As nocturnal creatures, bushbabies spend the daytime curled up in nests of leaves or tree hollows.

The most adorable 'stowaway' travelled all the way from Jozi to Cape Town. Was it for the beach, our glorious views or was it solely to stare at Table Mountain?

While the answers may be unclear, we are thrilled that Maurice is safely back in the City of Gold.

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