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Even though "carnivore" refers to any meat-eating animal, the order Carnivora include species that are omnivoruous (e.g.Bears), even herbivorous (e.g. Giant Panda) or insectivorous such as the Aardwolf who almost entirely feeds on termites!
 Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas
The Jackal is a scavenger, however it does also actively hunt and kill its own food. They hunt on hares, rodents, small antelopes and young of large antelopes,. Male and female mate for life and raise offspring together and their dens are often in Aardvark holes.
The Black-backed jackal belongs to the family Canidae (dogs) and the Genus Canis. They are common in Kuzikus and are the main predators along with the African Caracal.
Aardwolf Proteles cristata
The Aardwolf is the only surviving species of its subfamily family of Hyaenidae (Hyenas)). Unlike Hyenas though, the Aardwolf feeds mainly on termites. It has a sticky tongue to be an efficient licker.
Aardwolfs are rarely spotted during the day as they are nocturnal and shy. During the day they sleep in burrows such as those of Aarvarks.
 Bat-eared Fox Otocyon megalotis
This fox belongs to the family of canids, however to a different genus than the jackal. The Bat-eared Fox has reduced canines, because it feeds on mainly on insects and sometimes on rodents, birds, eggs and fruit.
They live in small groups consisting of the mated pair and their offspring. They often inhabit old Aardvark holes, which are plenty on Kuzikus.
African Caracal Caracal caracal
The Caracal belongs to the family of Felidae (Cats) among the Carnivora. Males can weigh up to 18 kg, making it the heaviest among small cats. It usually hunts at night mainly on rodents and birds, but sometimes attacks young Ostrich and small antelopes.
Gestation lasts from 61 - 81 days and litter size can be up to 6 young. Caracals are regarded as a pest by lifestock farmers. They hide well and rarely seen.
 Large-spotted Genet Genetta tigrina
The large-spotted genet resembles the European genet. It belongs to the Family of Viverridae (Civets, Lingsan and Genets). It is nocturnal and arboreal and feeds on rodents, birds, reptiles, fruits and invertebrates.
This particular individual was caught in a trap by the lodge as it was happily reducing the number of domestic chicken. It was released elsewhere on the reserve.
Other common members of the order Carnivora that occur in Kuzikus are the Cape Fox (Vulpus chama), African Wildcat (Felis sylvestris), the threatened Black-footed cat (Felis nigripes), serveral species of mongoose (Family: Herpestidae) and occasionally the Leopard (Panthera pardus) and Brown Hyena (Hyena brunnea).
Many carnivores are nocturnal, therefore hard to see during the day. BRinK certainly will tackle a study on carnvirores soon in order to reveal occurance and abundance of carnivore species in Kuzikus.
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