The other day my friend Annie came rushing in, telling me to come as she had something she knew I would want to see.
The trapper had caught a Genette (Genetta genetta ) in his trap. Annie’s husband Yvon is the representative of the French Hunting Association in the area so the trapper brought the Genette so that its capture could be noted and they could discuss a suitable place for its release. The Genette is protected in France and is rarely caught in traps and even more rarely seen in the wild as it is nocturnal and avoids human habitation. It is carniverous and will eat any small rodents such as wood mice.
I was fascinated to be so close to such a beautiful but savage animal. It has a very long body and a beautiful coat, I could understand why it used to be hunted for its fur. It did not seem at all upset to caged in the middle of the day and was taking the extra attention very stoically. A loud noise made it go on the defensive and it snarled revealing an impressive set of teeth. It changed from passive pussy cat to serious predator in seconds.
I’m afraid the excitement was too much for me and the pictures are a very poor quality.
Only the pregnant females have a fixed den so I’m sure the Genette will not object to being transferred to new hunting grounds.
a french garden 
Holy cow! That is exciting. I’m super envious.
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I am very lucky.
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I didn’t know they have such fascinating wildlife in France. And don’t even know this animal. Must have been interesting to see before the realease.
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My friend Annie had seen one before and was really excited to show me one too.
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Wow. I had to do some research on the internet to find out what a genet is. What a cool-animal. I too am surprised that they can be found in France.
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Their origins are Africa and there is a theory that they could have been brought over by the Romans or Moors.
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How nice that your friends and neighbours know to tell you about these finds; I’ve never even heard of this animal. I’ll have to find out if they are here in Italy.
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I must admit Annie had talked about it before and described it to me but I was at a loss as I had never heard of it.
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What a find, Amelia and I haven’t heard of them either. Sometimes the naming of an animal is just perfect. Dave
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Do you mean as in double-barrelled Latin?
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No, I just meant as in La Genette – but double barrelled latin is good too. Dave
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I’d never even heard of one!
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I had never heard of them before coming to France.
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Absolutely wonderful!
I am with Susan on this…
personally, green with envy!!
The “Guide des mammifères d’Europe, d’Afrique du Nord et du Moyen-Orient” [Delachaux & Niestlé 2010] states that it has colonised most of South-West France…
and is still spreading [the map shows a curve from Nantes, running North of the Loire and curving round to the Massif Central, then the South Coast…
but now regularly seen as far away as Belgium and Germany]…
whilst mainly carniverous, it, like the Fouine, also eats mushrooms and fruits…
and the last line of the entry is interesting “Peut-être anciennement domestiquée.”
Might also explain it’s calm nature until worried.
You lucky, lucky, lucky….
and what a marvellous friend to come and fetch you!!
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Yes, I am very lucky. As the origin of the species is in Africa there is a theory that they may have been brought over as a domesticated animal in ancient times to keep down rodents. I can’t quite buy that idea, I think cats would have been easier. Perhaps ancient fur farms? Its coat was beautiful.
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Don’t forget that rich Romans used to excel in their acquisition of strange and exotic pets… and I’ll bet that the Moors may well have done…
If there was a trade in them in early days, someone may well have started breeding gennets… had the inevitable escapes and now they are visiting you!!
And will go on slowly expanding, filling gaps in the food chain where they exist…
{when I was in forestry at the end of the Sixties I saw…
twice… the fabled Surrey Puma….
and so did the colleagues with me…
it had been someone’s “pet” until it got too big…
it wasn’t at all put out by our appearance…
it stood up, looked at us and sauntered to the edge of the wooded area and lay down again….
it was wearing a very big thick leather collar…
and it was no pet Labrador…
at that time, if you had the money, you could buy one from the pet shop in Harrods… we were right in the middle of the “stockbroker belt”… and there was no Dangerous Animals Act then!!}
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I think your theory of how the Genet reached France from Africa sounds more plausible and as your tale of the Surrey Puma shows – people haven’t really changed.
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Exotic and beautiful. What a treat.
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Not cuddly, though 🙂
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_genet
I learned something new . . . I learned there is something I want to photograph if I ever visit France.
Had never heard about it, and was surprised at its size.
I understand about the photos, but your next chance to photograph one better result in more and better photos.
. . . don’t make me come over there and take my own . . .
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I would really have liked a shot showing the whole body. Perhaps I should have been more forward and asked if I could have come along for the release but I wasn’t prepared for the encounter.
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That’s interesting. Like others I had never heard of this animal. In that last photo it has the face of a cougar, but the ears are a little different.
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It does have some very strong feline looks to it but different proportions to the big cats.
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Astounding! I thought Genets only lived in Africa. The only french Genet I know of wrote novels, plays & poems… RH
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I had never heard of him either – had to look him up!
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What an exciting find. It seems to have a very long tail ? And is perhaps a little like a Civet?
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Yes, there is a similarity. Their proportions are not what we are used to in the animals we have around us and the markings are particular too. It looked so calm and gentle until it snarled when it looked a formidable predator.
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The proportions are very unusual.
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Very good, I am glad you shared the photos with the world. Thanks.
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Glad you liked it.:)
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Wow, such a beautiful creature!
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It is indeed an elegant creature with beautiful fur and happily, will be running around free now.
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How exiting to be close to such a beautiful creature.
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