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About Jonathan Wright
Expertise
I can answer questions about wild mammals, as well as other wild animals. I can also answer questions on extinct animals and zoos. PLEASE DON'T SEND ME ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT PETS. IF YOU ARE REALLY WORRIED, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A VETERINARIAN. PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME THAT UNPAID PEOPLE ON ALLEXPERTS ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY AND WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH ADVICE THE MOMENT YOUR ANIMAL GETS ILL. Find out how to look after a pet before you get it. It is unfair to keep an animal in inappropriate conditions and give it the wrong food. If you can't keep an animal in good conditions, please don't bring it into your home. I'm not a vet and I don't have any expertise in animal medicine and care. I don't agree with people taking animals out of the wild and then expecting other people to give free advice on how to look after them. It is cruel to take animals away from their parents, who are able to look after the babies and may look for them, while putting their other babies at risk. You may need a licence to look after some animals. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals; please check with a local wildlife organisation. IF YOU FIND AN INJURED ANIMAL, PLEASE CONTACT A WILDLIFE VETERINARIAN OR CHARITY AND LET TRAINED STAFF LOOK AFTER THE ANIMAL. DO NOT TRY TO LOOK AFTER AN INJURED ANIMAL IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Please do not remove eggs from nests. The mother birds will know the right temperature for the eggs and will not sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them (check details on websites) to see if the eggs are fertile. If the eggs are not fertile, they will not hatch. I do not agree with fights between different animals. Please do not ask me questions about them.

Experience
I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two years old. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.

Organizations
World Wide Fund for Nature. Zoological Society of London. London Bat Group.

Publications
Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group

Education/Credentials
BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' levels in Zoology and Chemistry. 'O' Level in Biology.

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Veterinary Medicine > Wild Animals > Hand raising baby gennets

Wild Animals - Hand raising baby gennets

Expert: Jonathan Wright - 11/8/2009

Question

Baby genets

I found two abandoned baby genets that fell off our roof with umbilical cord and eyes shut. Got special kitty milk and baby formula milk that I have been feeding them on for the last 3 weeks. They are now fat and healthy. They are now teething and feeding time is a challenge because they would rather chew on the teat. I heard that I should mix mince or chopped up chicken into their milk so that they can acquire a taste for meat. It is working well, but what do I do next? How and when do I get them to start eating. How often should I feed them when they are on solids? Will they wean themselves the more they eat and when will I replace the milk for water? Please find photos attached. Our aim is to re-introduce them into the wild in 8 to 12 months.
Many thanks!

Answer
Dear Sonja

Thank you for your question and for the photo. Please contact a wildlife veterinarian for advice. I suspect that you could look after genets in a similar way to looking after kittens, but I have no experience in this matter. A wildlife organisation or veterinarian should be able to help you. Please note that it may take away the genets if they require specialist care, but I hope that the genets can be looked after properly so they can be released into the wild when they are ready.

All the best

Jonathan

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