A day of reckoning

Its when the world around you comes to a screeching halt, when one is completely absorbed in the moment instead of pondering what all the useless information that pours out of the media really means; this was my day of reckoning. My view on life changed when coming across one of the most elusive leopards (Panthera pardus) on the reserve, Tilo. But not only did I have the once in a lifetime sighting of this leopard, but her year-old cub Tsavo with her too. With his eyes fixed on me as if seeing past my painstaking human nature, Tsavo let me into his world for the first time. Simply recognizing that I was to cause no harm, he went on with his meal of a baby waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), once again letting me witness what few humans have ever seen in their lifetime.

Recognizing how quick trust was established with a wild leopard let me remember how trust should work; if one means no harm let them into your life with open arms, you may change their life. The circle of life will advance and eventually Tilo and Tsavo in due course will grow apart. In time I will come back to hear the stories about how these leopards changed other people’s outlooks on life and constantly be envious of the GVI staff and how they are spoiled living with these magnificent animals.

Robert Truax, volunteer, USA

Working with cheetahs

Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) have always been a favorite of mine out of all the big cats. Imagine my excitement, on the way to Karongwe Game Reserve, when I find out that part of the research I will be participating in, involves tracking and observing three collared cheetahs! The first time I laid eyes on the sleek and beautiful creature made the hairs on my arms stand on end. I wasn’t watching a TV documentary, this was real and I was no more than five metres away.

The best sighting that will always stay in my mind was with a mother of two 10 month old cubs, Savannah. We had been tracking her for about half an hour, and finally had a good signal on the telemetry receiver. My group and I stepped off the vehicle and walked in on her. We caught up with them and observed from a safe distance, with the two cubs in a very playful mood. They were running circles around me and my group, hardly paying us any attention whatsoever, while we took down the data. It was amazing to see them so content and relaxed, and watching them interact with each other this way was a magical moment for me.

Suddenly one cub glanced our way after the glare of the sun had hit the telemetry set. He became very interested and slowly started to walk towards us. I was feeling a bit nervous, mixed with a thrill of excitement as he seemed to be staring straight into my eyes! We slowly backed away and thankfully he ran off play-fighting with his brother again. To be able to share a moment like that in the cheetah’s world was a dream come true and something I will remember forever.

Kim Gratton, volunteer, UK

Karongwe Volunteers help out at Bismark school

An overcast day in Bismarck was a welcome change from the usual clear blue 30-plus degree heat, as the GVI volunteers offered their helping hands to Malebalong Primary School. The volunteers set about maintenance work around the school, some grabbed a spade and dug tirelessly shovelling mountains of dirt back into a 75m long water pipe trench, whilst the rest of the team got off lightly with a spot of painting in a newly built out-house, both jobs resulted in a similar outcome; sweaty, messy, blistered but still smiling volunteers.

Following a quick sandwich, some back-cracking and hopscotch with some of the kids, the group prepared themselves for a seemingly simple activity; a football match against a bunch of school kids, an easy win? Think again. The school team jogged out in matching blue kits, they were a well organised, young, fit and skilful machine of boys aged 8-12, including substitutes for added punishment. This was marked contrast to the GVI team- a random assortment of non-football playing internationals varying from unfit to ‘have probably driven past many a gym without even a glance’, plus, no one on the bench; only a fool would’ve bet against youth. An enthusiastic start from the volunteers held off the waves of offensive play from the shorter half for about 10 minutes until the goals were raining in from every angle, despite the best efforts of the flying goal keeper. The first half ended without so much as a shot on goal from the GVI team, however their on-pitch photographer/ 10^th player shot a few beauties. The shorties continued with nutmegs and slick passing moves to humiliate their adult counterparts, frustration finally kicked in when the referee whistled for an infringement as an intern used his superior weight and strength to hoist one of the kids off his bare feet and tuck him under his arm whilst continuing to dribble the ball, a clear foul, no objections from the GVI team!

GVI managed a few lucky manoeuvres and bagged a few consolation goals; the final score was anyone’s guess, however, victory was most definitely that of the cheeky, crafty, lightweight team of Malebalong Primary school. After the much anticipated final whistle pride was brushed aside and both teams sported winning grins/grimaces for a group photo. The GVI team was very well received by the school and was an extremely positive experience for all; I personally cannot wait to get back up there!

Matt Holmes, Mariepskop Intern, UK

Volunteering at Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve

It has been over a week that Blade, the male lion (Panthera leo) we had been tracking was separated from his pride. I was beginning to feel anxious for him, as he was losing weight drastically. Imagine my relief when one morning we found Blade back together with the rest of his pride again. They seemed so much more relaxed, the cubs were bouncy and playful. It was a beautiful moment to share with them.

Kim Gratton, volunteer, UK

Staying in the mountains for a few days was one of my favorite experiences while at Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve. The landscape was beautiful and walking the different trails, finding leopard tracks (Panthera pardus) and white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum), was so much fun. Having giraffe, leopards, rhinos and warthog literally in our back garden was amazing and, I wish we could have stayed longer.

Jen Archer, volunteer, UK

It was unbelievably incredible to wake one morning, to the deep rumble of a male lion’s roar (Panthera leo); a sound that strikes a chord of primal fear that makes you want to hide, even though you know you’re completely safe. It was the best wake up call of my life!

Stephanie Proudfoot, volunteer, USA

What a fantastic experience volunteering here at Venetia has been – learning to navigate round the 35 000 hectare reserve, tracking the movements of the focus animals. Being able to follow and observe the behavior of a pride of lions (Panthera leo), eating, playing and sleeping, has been a real high and something I will never forget.

Kay Winter, volunteer, UK

Everyday is an adventure here- you never know what you’ll see. Once while we were out searching for the lions (Panthera leo), we came across a lone elephant bull (Loxodonta africana) at a waterhole. He came around the bushes and literally six feet away from our vehicle. We didn’t think he was going to stop but he was deterred by base manager Chris Joubert banging on the vehicle and yelling. It was so easy to forget that, while these animals are magnificent creatures, they are still wild and this land belongs to them.

Natasha Iwashkiw, volunteer, Canada

New wild dogs for Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve

I was lucky enough to be at Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve on the day that two new wild dog males (Lycaon pictus) were released into the boma by the EWT (Endangered Wildlife Trust). As we sat waiting anxiously at 06h00 for the precious cargo to be lifted off the truck, everyone was getting really excited. Then finally EWT researcher John Power and intern Nick Pilfold carefully lifted open the doors of the boxes and one by one two beautiful new wild dogs shot out into the bush of the boma. It was all over in seconds but not many people get to watch animals being released into a new environment. Almost felt like being in a wildlife documentary on telly, it was such a privilege, a fantastic morning!

Rachelle Levett, volunteer, UK

Cheetah plans for Karongwe

One of the female cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) on Karongwe Game Reserve, Nyelethi, has two cubs that are nearing adulthood. They are a male and a female. In order to prevent too much in-breeding among the cheetahs on the reserve, as well as to assist with general regional management of cheetah genetics, these two youngsters are soon to be removed to other reserves, and in turn, there are plans to import two young males (a male coalition) which are currently on the De Wildt cheetah project but were previously free-living cheetah captured on a cheetah-unfriendly farm in Northwest Province, to avoid them being shot by the farmer. So, we lose two animals and gain two animals. Those who remember and had the priviledge of seeing Koba and Shungu (a previous male coalition) roaming Karongwe in years gone by will be excited at the prospect of two new youngsters coming in to assume a similar role on the reserve. Timing is uncertain as to when all of this will take place but we'll keep you updated. The plan is for all of it to happen on the same day using the same wildlife vet to bring the males from De Wildt and dart and crate Nyelethi's sub-adults.

Flash floods at Karongwe

This morning between 5am and 8:30am the heavens opened, dropping 80mm of rain on the already rain-soaked reserve.

Not surprisingly the research drives were cancelled, so we drove to the main road and then North to the Kuvenyami River as it was bound to be in full spate. One of the side barriers on the bridge was missing, I hope nobody went over the edge…

We then drove a little further North to the Makutsi River.

Then back South to our little Karongwe River...

All the fences through the rivers had been washed away and we saw a car that had come off the road and rolled down a hill (there was no one around so assumed they’d got out ok). Its now mid afternoon and the rain just hasn’t stopped. The afternoon drive has also been cancelled so staff member Sandra Jacob has devised yet another overly complicated game to keep the EMs occupied!

Story and photos thanks to Karongwe intern Paul Weller

Mariepskop biodiversity survey update

Work on Mariepskop Mountain has proved to be challenging recently as heavy storms and flash floods have washed some of the roads and bridges away, cutting off our access to town and some of the study sites. At one point this meant that we couldn’t get down the mountain and had to ask staff from Karongwe base to come and rescue us from the other side of the river. We then had to hop into their car and leave ours behind so we could get back to base. Dramatic stuff!

Despite the weather the small mammal survey work has continued and the reptile census turned up an unusual montane burrowing skink (Scelotes mira). So thanks to John for hunting it down! We are waiting for official ID’s for some of the amphibians we have caught that are not supposed to occur in the area, so fingers crossed that will also turn up an interesting discovery. Now let’s just cross our fingers and hope the rain stops so we don’t get stranded again!

White Rhino female and calf darting on Karongwe

What started out as an ordinary day, quickly turned into the adventure of a lifetime for some of the EMs at Karongwe Game Reserve. At about 09h00 we received a call from Constant, the reserve manager, stating that one of the Rhino cows had broken her horn, and needed to be darted for a check-up. “Extra hands will be needed if she has to be moved”, he said.

We all rushed to a central point close to where she had been seen that morning, then it was ‘hurry up and wait’ with the chopper flying to and fro nearby, building our excitement until our skin was the only thing keeping us from going everywhere at once. After an hour of baking in the sun we got the call to come in- the rhinos were down.

On arrival we were pleased to find that the Rhino and her calf had gone down close to a road, and no more than 10m from Chipembere Dam! The calf was fairly awake but once blind-folded, and on his sternum, he seemed to relax a little and his breathing became more regular as the drugs started wearing off. His mother however, took a bit more manipulation to get onto her sternum, 20 sweating, cursing EMs to be precise. Everyone had their hands full… while some tended to the cow, holding her on her sternum; others ran to and from the dam collecting water in large 20L containers to keep the animals cool. Unfortunately the horn had been cracked right down at the base (it is thought from a scuffle with one of the males on the reserve). So it was sawn off for safe keeping and the decision taken to move the two rhinos to the project enclosure for close monitoring.

With the fearless vet Dr Peter Rogers talking us through the process we managed to get the calf on his feet (it took an electric cattle prod, but once he was up, he was up) and walk him into the trailer in preparation for the move. It took almost 30 people to move the rhino cow and get her into the larger trailer. Once secure in the trailer they took the short journey up to the buffalo project where they were released.

The cow was released first as we all watched anxiously from a distance, walking slowly from the trailer. She moved far enough away for us to open the trailer the calf was in. He was a little more eager to come out, running straight toward our vehicles calling for his mother. She responded immediately and they were able to find one another soon after- an amazing experience!!

Leshiba Wilderness trip

Week 3 of 2009’s first expedition and ‘Team Simba’ gets a trip to Leshiba Wilderness (Mountain Phase). Hello hot showers, no mozzies and late morning starts, 7 am!! We were greeted by a herd of people-friendly horses who were interested in everything we did, even the GVI Risk Assessment. Days spent toiling cutting down sickle-bush were rewarded with an afternoon swim in a crystal clear rock pool complete with a natural water slide. Evenings were spent relaxing, having a braai, playing cards and ultimate frisbee and having a few drinks. On the last morning we saw a rather unique event, where a dung beetle had collected a cricket and began to bury it, a rare event. Our visit was completed by a breathtaking hike along the Vulture Cliffs, where we spotted black eagles, rock dassies and a wildebeest.