Video of rusty-spotted genets consuming bats and other prey: behaviors observed and eco-epidemiological considerations

We present the first videos of consumption of bat or rodent by rusty-spotted genet (Genetta maculata) inside a cave in the Republic of Congo. Following the implementation of a camera-trap monitoring protocol of interactions between cave bats and wildlife, we identified important genet activity in one of the caves in our study. Between 2022 and 2023, we recorded four events of bats or rodents’ consumption (including two with certainty on bats), one hunting behavior on bats and three feeding behaviors on insects. We detail the various behaviors and then discuss the potential implications of genets consuming bats, rodents and insects, and in particular scavenging on dead bats. Finally, we address the potential implications of zoonotic pathogen transmission from bats transmitted by genets to humans via the bushmeat trade. This link leads to the following videos: Video 1: 4842 – Inside Boundou Cave; 4 June, 2022 at 05:45 pm; Consumption of a bat or rodent; Ignore the date in the video, the camera had the wrong date. Video 2: 8270 – Inside Boundou Cave; 27 January, 2023 at 03:44 am; Consumption of a bat or rodent. Video S1: 5058 – Inside Boundou Cave; 19 June, 2022 at 05:26 am; Consumption of a bat; Not clear whether the bat was killed or found dead. Video S2: 6118 – Inside Boundou Cave; 7 September, 2022 at 03:55 am; Consumption of a bat; Not clear whether the bat was killed or found dead. Video 3: 2845 – Outside Boundou Cave; 26 January 2021 at 06:03 am; Hunting behavior towards bats flying around the genet; The rock where the genet sits is located at the exit of the cave. Video 4: 4819 – Outside Boundou Cave; 20 May, 2022 at 03:11 am; Predatory behavior on ground insects in the leaf litter outside the cave; Several bats flying around, but genet not paying attention. Video 5: 8144 – Inside Boundou Cave; 17 January, 2023 at 04:35 am; Predatory behavior on ground insects in the guano litter inside the cave; Lots of beetles on the ground ;Several bats flying around, but genet not paying attention. Video 6: 8378 – Inside Boundou Cave; 3 February, 2023 at 03:15 am; Predatory behavior on insects in the guano litter inside the cave; Very dark video