What is a Bush Baby?
The name Bush baby comes from the animal's cries and dwarf appearance. They are almost exclusively seen at night, they have firm grip, can jump a long distance (they can jump up to 6.6 feet (2 m) in the air and it is believed this is due to elastic energy stored in the tendons of their lower legs) and can walk on their front two legs like a human or use all four like other animals.
Also See: Photos Of A Bush baby Found Inside Girls Hostel In AAU, Ekpoma
Bush babies are also called Galagos, they have large eyes that give them good night vision, strong hind limbs, acute hearing, and long tails that help them balance. Their ears are bat-like and allow them to track insects in the dark. They catch insects on the ground or snatch them out of the air. They are fast, agile creatures. As they bound through the thick bushes, they fold their delicate ears back to protect them.
They have nails on most of their digits, except for the second toe of the hind foot, which bears a grooming claw. The fingernails are rounded like that of human, with the exception of the second toe which is modified as a toilet claw. This pointed claw is used to groom the head and neck fur and to clean the ears. The fingers and toes have flat disks of thickened skin which aid in grasping tree limbs and slippery surfaces.
They also have a second tongue. This second tongue is situated below their normal tongue and is used specifically in conjunction with their front teeth for grooming.
Bush babies generally do not live in areas above altitudes of 6,500 feet. Most often, they live in tree hollows that provide shelter. Sometimes, they construct nests in the forks of branches, but these are not as commonly used as are natural holes. Bush babies prefer trees with little grass around them, probably as a precaution against wildfires. They will also seek shelter in man-made beehives.
Also See: Photos Of A Bush baby Found Inside Girls Hostel In AAU, Ekpoma
Galagos communicate both by calling to each other, and by marking their paths with urine. At the end of the night, group members use a special rallying call and gather to sleep in a nest made of leaves, a group of branches, or a hole in a tree.
Myths
Many Africans, particularly in this part of Africa believe that Bush babies are mystical creature/animal seen only at night and always made a sound like a crying baby at peoples' doors. Such beliefs are that the animal would then kill and eat any unfortunate victim that comes to the aid of the 'crying baby'.
There have been no evidence or prove to these claims, however such myths have existed in this part of the world for several decades, people believed that bush babies usually terrorized villages which are not developed and still exist in the bushes. There have been reported cases people hearing babies crying at night in my neighborhood whereby there are absolutely no babies crying, but no one were able to go out to investigate where the cry is coming from, majorly because of fear of stories being told about attacks by Bush babies.
Here is another strong myth about Bush babies in Africa:
That Bush babies are very strong spiritual creatures that go about with a small piece of cloth which they claim is not an ordinary piece of cloth (rag) that looks like “dankaka bags” of ancient time, which is usually very dirty.
According to this belief, if someone successfully kills a Bush baby and take away the rag it usually carries about, the person becomes a very rich, such that people go to “Juju” men to get the spiritual power needed for them to go in search of bush baby
There are also some school of thoughts about the animal, that the cry of a baby it makes is to lure people out of their houses to get killed, they believe the animal cannot be seen as it is a spiritual animal and even it attacks the victims, they don’t get to see it.
All these, however are myths
Do you have a Bush baby story, maybe in your boarding school days, or any useful information about bush babies, please feel free to share below.
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Also See: Photos Of A Bush baby Found Inside Girls Hostel In AAU, Ekpoma
Bush babies are also called Galagos, they have large eyes that give them good night vision, strong hind limbs, acute hearing, and long tails that help them balance. Their ears are bat-like and allow them to track insects in the dark. They catch insects on the ground or snatch them out of the air. They are fast, agile creatures. As they bound through the thick bushes, they fold their delicate ears back to protect them.
They have nails on most of their digits, except for the second toe of the hind foot, which bears a grooming claw. The fingernails are rounded like that of human, with the exception of the second toe which is modified as a toilet claw. This pointed claw is used to groom the head and neck fur and to clean the ears. The fingers and toes have flat disks of thickened skin which aid in grasping tree limbs and slippery surfaces.
They also have a second tongue. This second tongue is situated below their normal tongue and is used specifically in conjunction with their front teeth for grooming. Bush babies generally do not live in areas above altitudes of 6,500 feet. Most often, they live in tree hollows that provide shelter. Sometimes, they construct nests in the forks of branches, but these are not as commonly used as are natural holes. Bush babies prefer trees with little grass around them, probably as a precaution against wildfires. They will also seek shelter in man-made beehives.
Also See: Photos Of A Bush baby Found Inside Girls Hostel In AAU, Ekpoma
Galagos communicate both by calling to each other, and by marking their paths with urine. At the end of the night, group members use a special rallying call and gather to sleep in a nest made of leaves, a group of branches, or a hole in a tree.
Myths
Many Africans, particularly in this part of Africa believe that Bush babies are mystical creature/animal seen only at night and always made a sound like a crying baby at peoples' doors. Such beliefs are that the animal would then kill and eat any unfortunate victim that comes to the aid of the 'crying baby'. There have been no evidence or prove to these claims, however such myths have existed in this part of the world for several decades, people believed that bush babies usually terrorized villages which are not developed and still exist in the bushes. There have been reported cases people hearing babies crying at night in my neighborhood whereby there are absolutely no babies crying, but no one were able to go out to investigate where the cry is coming from, majorly because of fear of stories being told about attacks by Bush babies.
Here is another strong myth about Bush babies in Africa: That Bush babies are very strong spiritual creatures that go about with a small piece of cloth which they claim is not an ordinary piece of cloth (rag) that looks like “dankaka bags” of ancient time, which is usually very dirty.
According to this belief, if someone successfully kills a Bush baby and take away the rag it usually carries about, the person becomes a very rich, such that people go to “Juju” men to get the spiritual power needed for them to go in search of bush baby
There are also some school of thoughts about the animal, that the cry of a baby it makes is to lure people out of their houses to get killed, they believe the animal cannot be seen as it is a spiritual animal and even it attacks the victims, they don’t get to see it.
All these, however are myths
Do you have a Bush baby story, maybe in your boarding school days, or any useful information about bush babies, please feel free to share below.
You May Also Like:
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