THE ROCK OR KLIP DASSIE 



Adult Dassies when captured often refuse to eat, 

 or only nibble a little food, and in consequence soon 

 die, but if placed in a large cage and kept secluded, 

 they will start to feed and soon become reconciled 

 to their new environment. The old ones never 

 lose their fear of man and are always timid, and if 

 attempts be made to handle them they snap at the 

 fingers with their teeth. When captured young, or 

 when almost adult, they soon become tame, and make 

 interesting pets by reason of their quick, active, 

 restless ways and gentle disposition. When first 

 captured, Dassies are sometimes so terrified that 

 they actually die of fright. I have seen instances 

 of this. 



When captured young and kindly treated, the 

 Dassie can be tamed so thoroughly that it will not 

 stray from the dwelling if given its liberty. When 

 kept closely confined, Dassies become savage and 

 morose, as do many other animals in like circum- 

 stances. This is distinctly cruel, and should not 

 be permitted. 



An animal dealer of my acquaintance was in the 

 habit of keeping one or two tame Dassies. Wild 

 ones when captured were placed with them, and they, 

 observing the tame ones eat and show no terror at 

 sight of the keeper, soon lost their nervousness and 

 became tame in a short while. 



In captivity Dassies must be kept cosy and warm, 

 otherwise they will perish. They are very cleanly 

 in their habits. A peculiar habit of the Klip Dassie 

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