Behind @Hyraxhub

While several accounts already existed for years prior, such as Darren Collins’s @SquiggyTheHyrax and Doop’s @Hyraxheaven, @Hyraxhub remains one of the first hyrax-themed accounts on the internet.

Previously, they were an extremely niche animal with very little awareness surrounding their existence. A viral post about a hyrax sitting on a pot, or a hyrax screaming into the night would go virtually unnoticed with only scattered comments about how new the animal was. Whenever I would search for “Hyrax,” the results would be sparse and unappreciated.

I originally posted hyrax photos turned into memes and a few videos I recorded myself. With a consistent schedule and occasional advertisement, it steadily garnered attention and a dozen other meme accounts spawned afterwards, including @Hyraxhell, @Hyraxpurgatory, and even @PablotheHyrax.

“WAWA!”

In 2024, I posted my first screaming hyrax to the internet. It was a small clip put together and cut to perfectly grab the sounds of the gasping animal, and I had no idea that it was going to go as far as it did.

@Hyraxhub was an instagram-only account at the time, and while I started the Hyrax subreddit to build a community around these little guys, I wasn’t able to notice the copycat accounts stealing and reuploading my video around the internet.

It wasn’t long before my clip was on Youtube, Twitter, Tiktok, and elsewhere… and none of them were my own account. It was so severe that other instagram accounts started popping up to reupload my videos!

Note: I love sharing videos from other hyrax videographers, but I ensure that I secure rights to any video shared on Hyraxhub, have permission to share the video, and that I will not upload it in a way to directly compete with the author.

Despite everything, Hyraxes were becoming more and more popular than I ever dreamed possible. I didn’t care about the multiple $hyrax and $wawa coins popping up with my art and photos, or the AI conspiracy theory videos that made the hyraxes look like monsters. I cared more about the fact that hyraxes were becoming widespread and popular.

Today, Hyraxes are still a niche internet animal, but with significantly more awareness from several very different circles on the internet.

They’re featured in the Bible several times, notable for their wisdom and are protected from our consumption. As a result, we’ve made friends with some lovely christian groups and pages who admire the animal and its place in scripture.

They are also seen as “autistic-coded,” with Redditor’s relating to the loud little creature who disobeys social contracts and looks a little scruffy and silly 100% of the time.

And last but not least; they are popular with naturalists and zookeepers. Building up hyraxes is making them more popular at zoos around the country, and a lot of animal ambassadors cherished their longstanding appreciation for the animals!

I am currently working with DAKTARI Bush School in South Africa, and traveling to film as many new hyraxes as I can in the time I have.

Now known in part for his AWAWA song, Spaul is an Italian musician who orchestrated several fun songs for me out of some of my content. I’ve made animated videos with him and have since enjoyed seeing his songs of various other meme animals in the months since.

We created a Hyrax themed board game with House Fish Balloon and El Marland. You can currently purchase it on Amazon or in House Fish Balloon’s retail locations.

I am currently working with DAKTARI Bush School in South Africa, and traveling to film as many new hyraxes as I can in the time I have. They are a wonderful NGO organization that helps wildlife in their area while teaching children of their heritage.

They are also home to the adorable Caline and formerly the home of their little dwarf hyrax Popcorn.