The Story so Far:

In October 2006, two bedraggled and terrified Lesser Bushbaby infants were rescued after a violent storm swept them out of their nest in a tree near the Mavros homestead. Forbes Mavros took up the challenge of bringing up the twins, which were not yet weaned. Fortunately for the pookies it was a success story, and after nine months, they are well out of danger. The little creatures have endeared themselves to the Mavros family and have become part of the household, where they are now learning to survive on their own. Forbes takes up the story for the pookie fans:

Mpata Farm, June 2007

The pookie brothers have now reached their adult size, and although they are still young, they have already developed very different characters. Pookie, the larger of the two, is very bold and has a slightly mischievous manner. He is forever bouncing onto flower arrangements, knocking them over and then standing tall on his back legs as he proudly examines the damage. Pookie’s size is a result of his obsession with food particularly milk chocolate and moths. Pookino, the smaller of the two night-apes, is a far more reserved little animal and is shy around strangers. However once he has accepted a stranger he becomes the most lovable, cuddly little friend.

A favourite game of the pookies is to jump into Patrick’s long and curly hair and clasp on while Patrick swings them from side to side (see video clip).
 
When the sun sets in Africa and the nocturnal pookies wake up, it is also the time when jackals bark and spotted eagle owls hoot. Every night the pookies’ larger cousin the Thick-tailed Bushbaby raids the avocado pear tree outside the kitchen.
 
After sunset Pookie and Pookino become active little hunters in the house and pounce on praying mantis and moths, which they munch head first whilst sitting back on their haunches.
 
When they have finished eating, the pookies become playful, jumping impossible distances sometimes up to 10 times their stretched body length. They bounce around the floor like miniature kangaroos before climbing under your shirt to cuddle against the warmth of your body.
 
At night, the pookies sleep inside Forbes’ huge bedroom. As he lay in bed watching them recently, he was oblivious to the presence of the pookies’ deadliest and quietest predator that sat poised in a nearby tree. The spotted eagle owl launched its attack on Pookino, but crashed into the heavy window pane that separated them. It took the little pookie about two seconds to cover the distance of the room and jump into the safety of Forbes’ bed.

The owl sat for 5 minutes on the lawn outside the bedroom before it recovered and flew off into the night.