Helping to move Cheetah
Feeding Zebbie
Feeding Alice
Not such a busy week this week, mainly rounds, and cleaning cleaning cleaning. I am getting very good at picking up poo, scrubbing poo from perches, and cleaning out water bowls.
We helped to collar a Cheetah on Monday, lifting it onto a sling to carry it with, making sure it didn’t stop breathing, then watching while they took measurements and paw prints and then put the collar on it. It was then released on a farm, where we can monitor it to see how often it kills, and what its range is.
I have also done a conservation talk, discussing the issues South Africa has with the animals, and the lack of respect or care the people have for them.
Another day we were shown how to fire a gun, and had explained all about the bullets, how it works, the different parts, and how the bullet flies. I wasn’t really interested, but it was all part of working at the centre, and what we are taught. We then went out and fired at some targets. Much to my surprise, I did not too bad at it.
The food here is fantastic, smorgasboard for breakfast, lunch if we want it, or we can just stay at the centre and make our own with food we have bought, and then another smorgasboard for dinner. We go down to another camp for our meals, which is lovely, in a forest setting (its aptly named the forest camp), where we open the shutters, and watch the animals feeding outside.
I am also now Serval Mummy, which means I get to feed 2 baby Servals, Leila and Houdini, four times a day. They are not too keen on humans, Houdini being a wild Serval who kept escaping from the enclosure where he was born thus the name, and Leila just being very shy. There is another Serval who has been added to our morning rounds, Star, who is about 8 months old, and is so playful and friendly. She reminds me of my cats, as she comes up to you, rubs against your legs, purrs, plays attacks, and is generally a psycho animal.
4 comments:
Your favourite uncle is very p***** off that he is not there as well. Looks like a fantastic trip to date. Sooooo jealous that you are seeing and working with all those animals.
I agree with Rob when he says that he is jealous...
That vulture looks bloody heavy. I was talking Rob Pederick and we were discussing if a Weggie or one of your Vultures where the heaviest.
Do you have any idea?
Very jealous of your cheetah...
Good that you can shoot straight. If you have to learn how to handle them do it the best you can and you will keep yourself out of trouble with them. People who are wary or scared of them are the most dangerous to themselves and to others. I'm presuming that you have to learn about them because there might be a possibility that you just might have to use one in anger - if that ever came to pass [and I hope it wouldn't] then you will be most benefit to everyone ig you can use them properly and accurately. Anyway, I would thnk with your hand eye coordination you could be very good at shooting.
Now Servals, they are like a big lanky cat????? And remember you become psycho 'cause of your parents - now buck up and be a good Serval Mummy!!!!!
LOL
Ian
Sorry that you are all jealous, but you will just have to live with that. I too will be jealous of you Rob when/if you go to Japan.
As for the Servials, they are very lanky, but are quite a small cat, only about knee height. When I get some photos of them, I will put them up for you to see.
I showed your blog to Mumma and Rose this morning.
Lucky you, in a balloon! Love Mum, Mumma and Rose
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