What is a rock badger?

The rock badger, or Procavia capensis, is one of four living species of hyraxes. These small animals look somewhat like guinea pigs or woodchucks but are actually more closely related to elephants, manatees and dugongs. They are native to sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.

Rock badgers live in rocky areas with moderate vegetative cover and plenty of crevices to hide in. They live in colonies of up to 80 animals. Each colony contains several families consisting of an adult male, several related females and their young. Rock badgers feed on a wide variety of plants and are preyed on by leopards, birds of prey, snakes, jackals, servals, caracals, mongooses, African wild dogs and lions.