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She had often observed the dassies as they foraged for grass.

It is only the second time the small animals, also known as the rock rabbit or dassie, have reproduced since arriving at the safari park in 2012.

The dassies too—watchful, silent and rubber-footed—played hide-and-seek with them in the cracks and crevices; but the dogs had no chance there.

You believe me: that dassie cried out to warn the tiger.

As the afternoon shadows lengthened, the dassies muttered among themselves and eventually clustered at the entrance to their den.