Do you like rock hyrax? Not sure what they are? People often mistake them for rodents, but they are related to the elephant and are called “little brother of the elephant.” But they look like and are about the size of a football!

When I started at the San Diego Zoo as an educator, one of my jobs was to learn how to work with animal ambassadors living in the Children’s Zoo. I was introduced to Rocky and Hannibal, and so began my love affair with the hyrax. Then came Cliff and Pebbles (she was so teeny tiny when she was born, hence the name!). As Pebbles matured and filled out, fellow educator Mother Meerkat thought we should change her name to Boulder. Pebs, as I called her, had an attitude that was challenging, yet fun, to work with, quite the personality.

Along with Pebs, there were two baby hyraxes that needed hand raising, just like Pebs had needed. The boys were named Wallace and Gromit. The three of them spent several years together as animal ambassadors, meeting all sorts of people on television shows and at school assemblies, nursing homes, a children’s hospital, and animal presentations on Zoo grounds. They would easily put a smile on your face! You may remember them, as they lived in an exhibit at the exit of the Children’s Zoo.

Pebs had us all trained to give her a cup of water when in the kitchen area. She was pretty good at jumping up on water fountains and getting a drink of water! Wallace and Gromit were nothing like Pebs; they each had their own special personality. Pebs was very unpredictable; the boys were just the sweetest things. I like to think that I was their very own “rock” to climb and jump on. They were all very special to me.

Unfortunately, we do not live forever. For the past seven years I was without a hyrax friend. Then, in 2006, seven females and one male hyrax moved into the Zoo’s Kopje exhibit. Somebody had to get pregnant with that ratio! Sadly, one mom had a problem and her three babies went to the Children’s Zoo nursery to be hand raised at two days old: one female and two males. How did we tell each of them apart? A little bit of orange, green, and yellow nontoxic paint was dabbed on their heads!

Boy, was I in the right place at the right time! The nursery needed some help, and there I was, working a few days in the nursery. What more could I ask for? Three hyraxes and two meerkats were being raised. From earlier experiences, we knew they made great animal ambassadors. I visited them day after day in the nursery. They weren’t that crazy about me, but they sure loved their amazing “moms” in the nursery. Taking it personally, I was disappointed. When I headed off on a three-week vacation, I wondered what would happen to our relationship…

Carol Penner is an educator at the San Diego Zoo. She promises to write another blog about her hyrax experiences!

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