the wild animals around the Pugu Hills Nature Centre.

The result of this policy is that on a quiet day you can observe the Sykes' monkeys passing

the restaurant without jumping on your lunch.

We hope that also our guest can resist the temptation and do not leave edibles in the Banda or Tent

which may invite the monkeys (Vervet Monkey and Yellow Baboon) to visit in your absence

and take whatever looks consumable

The mammals spotted in the surrounding of Pugu Hills over the years are described briefly and illustrated. Some animals are quite common and when you take the trouble to wake up early and sit and wait quietly you may see the duikers, mongooses, shrews, monkeys and other small mammals. The nocturnal animals are more difficult to bump into, most encounters are while driving at night in the car or as road accidents. In fact the number of road accidents is a good indication of the presence of wildlife in the area.

Please share with us the mammals spotted by you, which will hopefully expand our knowledge about the forests and keep us informed about the decrease/ increase of the wildlife in the area.

You can E-mail your spottings to us under bookings click here

A common question is "Are there Lions in Pugu"? We have never seen one but heard stories of Lions passing near the pump house of Kisarawe Water Supply (Water Reservoir) and encounters on other locations in the Forest. It would not be surprising to have once in a while a strawling Lion in Pugu, with Ruvu West Forest Reserve just some 2 kilometres from Pugu Forest Reserve. The chances to meet one are slim. If you still feel uncomfortable with the idea ask for an escort  we offer for free to join you on your hike in the Forest.

Of the five mammals endemic to the East Africa coastal forest two are found in Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forest  

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Leopard (Panthera pardus)

It is estimated that there are still some 1 million leopards, whose future is much brighter than for the 10,000 cheetahs left in nature. Because of being nocturnal and wary they are seldom seen while they are still common in most parts of Tanzania. Also in the Pugu Forest area the foot prints are often seen and an occasional spotting confirms its presence. In Pugu it will feed on mongoose, duikers, guinea fowl and bush pig but that does not reflect its strength and capability of, as the story goes, its capability of dragging a 100 kg. Giraffe into a tree with its powerful jaw and neck muscles. It can also be found in suburbs emptying dustbins and catching unfortunate dogs. Apart from one siting and several food prints the Leopard is not a regular visitor at premises of the Pugu Hills Nature Centre.

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Black-Tipped or Slender Mongoose (Galerella sanguinea)

At the edge of the Forest when inspecting the Pugu Hills premises I often bump into a black-tipped mongoose hurriedly crossing the road. With the intuition that there is something wrong it will stop and have a brief watch and disappear after a second into the bush. The short encounter is always long enough to see the black tip at the tail end and the beautiful rufous-brown almost reddish fur. The 60 cm long animal feeds on lizards which is apart from the insects consumed its most important part of the diet. It is mostly encountered alone.

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The Banded Mongoose (mungos mungo), also very common on farms around Dar es Salaam is attracted by the dump pit of the Pugu Hills Centre and will noisily head-off with plastic debris and other attractive smelling packing material which can be collected later on in a wide circle around the pit. Moving in groups of up to 30, the members chasing each other to the extend that they completely forget other dangers, the banded mongoose is easy to be recognized with its 10 to 12 blackish transverse stripes. It will stand on his hind legs to survey the area for danger and the twittering communication will become shriller when danger threatens. The leopard which was sited at the Pugu Hills Centre in 1998 was attracted to the place because of the numerous mongooses around of which he managed to catch one. Like the black-tipped mongoose it is active by day. Mostly seen on the ground the striped mongoose is also able to climb trees.

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Small-spotted genet (Genetta genetta)

Another mongoose family member which is closely related to the large spotted genet and hardly distinguishable from the latter is nocturnal and solitary. It is only seen when trapped somewhere and biting when attempts are made to free it. It climbs trees and feeds on insects, rodents, reptiles birds and wild fruits. It can grow up to a meter in length and has a yellowish fur with black spots.

We strongly suspect the genet to have eaten our female turkey (June 2006), who was at night hiding in the bush for her over-dominant male.

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African Civet (Civettictis civetta)

After dusk the largest member of the mongoose family the African Civet becomes active and can be met on the road. With shoulders of 40cm height this dog like animal moves with its head low and its back arched. The body is marked with black bars and spots on a greyish body. The local farmers dislike the civet because of the damage it can cause to the crop. Some farmers bordering the Pugu Forest tried to protect their crops with netting fixed along the Forest edge. The civet can produce a nasty smell and possesses a greasy fluid which is used for perfume because of its quality to preserve odours for a long time.

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Common Duiker

More often heard than seen the common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) is found throughout southern Africa. A variety of colour is known, the common duikers seen in Pugu are yellowish-red and have a shoulder height of about 60 cm. The name duiker (Afrikaans for “diver”or “plunger”) refers to its habit when disturbed, of making off in a series of diving, zigzagging leaps into the undergrowth. The common duiker is the largest of Africa’s duiker species and the only one which is not exclusively associated with forest.

It is not strictly nocturnal and can be seen feeding in the early morning or late afternoon. Drinking water is not essential as the duiker can obtain its moisture requirements from its food (grass, fruit, flowers and seed). Although it is usually solitary, when a female comes in oestrus she will be accompanied by a male for a short period. The single young may be born at any time of the year after a gestation period of 90 days.

 The meat of the duiker is a delicacy for the villagers and traps are the major danger for the few remaining antelopes around Pugu.

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Bushbuck

 Only spotted once at the Pugu Hills Centre the bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) seems to be less common than the common duiker. The watchmen claim that it is frequently seen grazing in the early morning on the camp site. The bushbuck which is easily distinguished from the duiker because it is bigger (shoulder height of male 80 cm.) is generally solitary, although small groups of two or three are often seen.

For the bush buck thick cover and adequate water are essential habitat requirements. Only the ram has horns which can become some 25 cm. long and these can be used effectively when the animal is cornered.

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Suni (Nesotragus moschatus)

This tiny antelope which belongs more to fairy tales than to real-life expectations of an antelope, is just 30 cm. high when mature. It will try to hide until you are closing in, too close and rush for the bush. Its big eyes are easily recognized and it occurs singly or in pairs. In the dry season it is often heard while stepping on the dry leaves, also the tiny foot prints are often seen around the Pugu Hills Centre. If you have the time to stand still and wait for a while they will appear from the undergrowth and can be seen feeding.

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Bush Squirrel

Together with the banded mongoose and the blue sykes monkey, the bush squirrel (Paraxerus ochraceus) is among the most common mammals which is often seen or heard around the restaurant where it sings its morning hymn in an descending alarm type of call. With each call its tail is jumping up along with the sound. It occurs usually in pairs and is arboreal walking over the tiny branches as if it has no weight at all. The wild custard fruits are favourite food along with all other fruits and nuts in the forest.

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Elephant Shrew (Macroscelididae)

The first time I saw the Elephant Shrew I could not make up my mind whether I was watching a hare, a giant rat or a small deer like creature. With the snout like an elephant trunk the ears and hind legs of a hare, and the tail and front legs of a rat and the eyes and features of a suni (a small deer) it looks like a real photo collage. It is easy to trace an Elephant Shrew as it is trampling with its hind limbs or hitting the forest floor with its tail, in the hope to chase some insect for its meal. Active at day time but also after dark it feeds on ants and termites. Approaching it quietly, it does not seem to be bothered by the attention and continuous with its drum rolls.

 The local population claims that it sweeps its tracks clean with its tail. Under the undercover the trails can be easily distinguished from the tracks of the villagers for collection of firewood and timber in the forest because a human being can only use these tracks crawling.

Two species are so far distinguished at the premises, the golden-rumped elephant shrew (Rhyncocyon chrysopygus) and black and rufous elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi) for a detailed study see following link 

click here

Recently a new species is found (2005) in Udzungwa Mountains (Tanzania) Rhynochocyon udzungwensis.

The elephant shrew which occurs only in Africa, is, according to the scientists actually not related to the shrew, but to a group of African mammals, which include elephants, sea cow, aardvarks and hyraxes, having shared a common ancestor with them about 100 million years ago. This is why they are also known as sengis.

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black and rufous elephant shrew

Galago or Bush Baby

 Research is still ongoing describing the different species of galagos in Pugu Forest, Andrew Perkin has carried out a research programme collecting recorded sound of its loud wailing call not unlike that of a child which gave it its common name. The method of recording is used for distinguishing the different species. The nocturnal animal which is often sold as a pet in Dar es Salaam and popular because of its cute appearance, is very common around Pugu Hills. One animal was left at the Centre by American visitors who went back home, and had bought it in town in order to offer it a better future. Being used to human presence it will often climb around the restaurant, but after feeding it in the beginning it is now surviving on its own and seems to enjoy life again concluding from its noisy presence and occasional get-together with its old friends, homo-sapiens.

The Galagos are difficult to see being both arboreal and nocturnal. Sometimes one can be found sleeping in a tree during the daytime spotted by the specialist eye. Otherwise the full moon or a strong torch will show his presence after its call or twisting branches have announced his arrival. For residents staying overnight in the banda it is not uncommon to be woken in the middle of the night by something jumping on the roof, most probably the bush baby.

The Rondo Dwarf Galago (Galagoides rondoensis) of Pugu Hills is among the 25 most endangered primates in the world. For more details please download report . The watchmen can show you the different species of Bush Babies coming to the Residence Hill at "Pugu Hills". The picture below shows the cute "Rondo Dwarf Galago".

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Sykes Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis)

In the dry season the Sykes Monkeys are numerous around Pugu Hills, visiting the cashew nut trees and at the time the cashew nuts are difficult to find, the mango fruits become an attraction. The sykes monkey is not as hated by the farmers as the black-faced vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) which is relentlessly chased and killed, the reason is that the sykes monkey is not as interested in the crops. Different families occupy the area lead by a dominant male which produces an impressive honk sound deep from its belly which make people look around for a coughing lion rather than for the 1 meter high sykes monkey male. The arboreal animals roam away into the forest after the rains when food becomes more abundant. During hikes the distinct na-na-na-na call of the monkeys can be heard around the water reservoir and other favourite spots.

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Black-faced Vervet Monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops)

 Most vervet monkeys sited around Pugu Hills are probably escaped victims of the pet trade. The centre for the pet business (including animals as large as zebra’s) along the dirt road from Pugu Hills Nature Centre to the tar road is the most probable origin of these animals, which life in constant warfare with the Sykes Monkeys. Being much more noisy and much lighter in their features they can be easily distinguished from the Sykes Monkey which are also bigger. The vervet monkey chased by men assisted by dogs catches a good price of Tshs 5,000 each at the local pet traders office. The animals are flown out to Europe where either the new owner will harass the animal or vice versa. Our only means to discourage the trade is to chase men and dogs from the Pugu Hills Centre premises in the hope that the animals recognise the safe haven provided.

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Yellow Baboon (Papio cynocephalus)

 In Kazimzumbwi Forest this baboon is quiet common and found along the TAZARA Railway line some five kilometres from Pugu Hills. The slimmer built Yellow Baboon, compared to its relative the Olive Baboon eats grass as its most important food but insects, scorpions, birds, small mammals are welcome alternatives.In the dry season when food sources get less and possibly due to the continuous destruction of their habitat the baboons become more mobile and less shy. From January 2008 onwards their visits to Pugu Hills Nature Centre have become more frequent. The Mango Trees seems to be the main attraction..  

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Black and White Colobus Monkey (Colobus guereza and Colobus angolensis)

Two species are distinguished, guereza and angolensis. Although claimed to be residents of the Kazimzumbwi and Pugu Forests, only one siting was made in 10 years time, by a group of guest, visiting the bat cave along the central railway line, on October 21st, 2005. Two individuals were seen and more encounters of this beautiful primate are hoped for, but their presence could be short lived with major fires being introduced by the villagers of Pugu Stesieni in that section of the Pugu Forest.

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Bush Pig (Potamochoerus larvatus)

The predominant moslim community around the Forests of Pugu and Kazimzumbwi has not completely rooted out all poaching interest in this nocturnal animal. The puddles and excavations of the strong snout can be seen anywhere around the Centre and a first encounter in September 2005 with two fully grown beasts in 10 years time, indicates the difficulty of actually observing the pigs which are most active at night. In the dry season the pigs come out of the forest to forage on the cassave roots left on the deserted fields around Pugu Hills.

The scientific name for the bush pig is referred to by some as Potamochoerus porcus while others use the name Potamochoerus larvatus. Both names are conflictingly used for the Bush Pig and Red River Hog (click for image) the latter being brightly russet orange colored and has a short coated appearance very different from the bristly "shaggy" appearance of the bush pig observed at Pugu. The discussion on the correct naming of the various pigs identified, is discussed elsewhere in more detail (link)

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Warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus)

Individual animals probably originating from Selous Game Reserve and Ruvu Forest Reserve, sometimes appear around the Pugu Forest. The fact that some years ago the villagers working in the fields around the Centre decided to find a safe refuge in the trees in the assumption that they were confronted by a young Lion, proves that the warthog is not very common. However during the early years of construction of the Pugu Hills Nature Centre (1994) warthogs were still found in the valley grazing during the early morning hours.

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Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

Often heard around Pugu Hills Nature Centre but seldom seen is the spotted hyena. Attracted by the cattle market at Pugu Kajiungeni, several members of this dog like animal (who is said to be more closely related to the cat), whose foot prints are easily distinguished from the strolling dogs in the neighbourhood sometimes visits the premises but does not seem to be interested in human flesh. The watchmen are left undisturbed in their night rest at the centre concluding from the footprints passing their “bed”. Favourite food of the hyena are dogs, aware of this they will often announce the arrival of the hyena in case its own typical belly turning laugh is not accompanying his passage. The speed with which it travels can be noted between each call for which it will stand still, before it goes for the next lap. The hyena does go into the forest but is more comfortable in the open along the forest edge. Although the hyena is hunting and moving in packs the dogs around Pugu are most single and scavenging on anything found like chicken disposed by the various chicken farms around and small prey.

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Side-striped Jackal

The local population in Pugu Kajiungeni is very well aware of the mammals present in the forest, but sometimes it is difficult to exactly learn which species are seen. The jackal (Kiswahili Mbwa Mwitu) which was victim of a car accident in 1998 close to the Pugu Kajiungeni primary school had a distinct white tail tip which is typical for the side striped jackal (Canis adudtus). Also at night the bird like sounds are according to the watchmen originating from the jackal.

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Probably quite common around "Pugu Hills" hares are hardly seen. Droppings can be found more often these days which may indicate that the Hare has avoided the area for sometime due to human activities and is now coming back. The first siting was in September 2006 on the soccer field, which is surprising enough after 12 years.

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