Monday 19 November

Owl making great recovery

Since John was away with his parents until noon Saturday, the weekend was pretty quiet. Sunday I felt fairly sick, so, after the morning feeding I mostly slept and did domestic chores. Susanne and John watched "March of the Penguins" and a couple of episodes of that amazing "Planet Earth" series, which I’d, brought with me. We attempted to cook our first real meal, but ended up just working up some so-so macaroni and cheese.

Monday, however, was pretty eventful. It started out with the usual early-morning feeding of the meerkats, owls and mongooses. The owl, which was rescued last week, has made a great recovery. He's now very alert and clicking his beak at everyone who walks into the clinic. The two baby owls are turning brown and beginning to spread their wings in prep for test-flights. We're a bit concerned about Cody's smallest baby who is now less than half the size of its two siblings, fairly thin and shakes most of the time. We've started trying to feed him by hand to supplement what he's getting from the feeding and from Cody, but he's not eating all that much from us.

Bliksem in trouble

On Sunday we had noticed that Bliksem seemed to have a wet wound under his flank. When Louise went to check it out, she decided it was necessary to call in the vet. It turns out that it was most likely a wound administered by Wireless. Thankfully it was not too serious, though, and the vet was able to treat him after a sedative...during which time Bliksem tossed his head and sent both Andre and John (both large men) to the ground. No hard feelings or broken bones.

On our way to water the lions and mongooses in the outlying pens, we spotted a zebra whose anus was horribly infected...badly enough that we could see it from many yards away. After Andre took a look at it, it was decided the most humane thing to do was to euthanize the young zebra. Very sad, but that's the reality of the bush. So it should not be for nothing, it was cut up and we took it over to feed the lion cubs.

Claudia, the volunteer who was here a few weeks ago, was back today for a recall interview about working in the office. I'm happy I was able to meet her and her boyfriend Robin who is a great ranger at Makalali, another sanctuary about fifteen minutes from SanWild. Perhaps we'll go over at some point for a visit with their volunteers and rangers.

While Susanne and John finally got around to watering the lions and mongooses, I stayed in camp. I planted some seeds, which I smuggled in from the US (very carefully selected for non-invasive traits) in bedding pots to give them a good start. They'll look wonderful in spots around the new gardens of the tourist camp as well as around the office. I also spent a while trying to figure out how to use the sewing machine Louise had decided I'd be an expert with. The last time I've successfully sewn with a machine was about twenty-five years ago, but I muddled through and think I've figured it out. Now I'm supposed to teach Flora with whom I don't have a common language, so I'm not sure how that's going to work!

Poor Barbara!

Louise and Barbara raced off to the Tzaneen bus station early Thursday morning. As it turned out Barbara's bus was late, overheated and had tire trouble on the way to Jo'burg. She spent a very hot day sitting in and around a bus along the side of the road. Then when she finally boarded her plane yesterday evening, they discovered a mechanical problem, and she is still in Jo'burg, not knowing whether or not she'd be able to fly out even today. They had no other planes available and had to fix hers in order to fly. Evidently also there were no hotel rooms available. What an awful way to end what she considered a wonderful holiday at SanWild!!!

Hello to Suzanne

On Thursday afternoon Louise and I drove to Phalaborwa to pick up Susanne coming in from Switzerland. She and I were volunteers together two years ago, and I was really very happy to see her again. She has been back several times since then, the last time a year ago for four months. She, too, is amazed at the changes to the tourist camp.

Locked toilet and badgers

We spent the morning feeding, playing with Cody, the meerkat mom and working on diaries and emails until she locked herself in the clinic bathroom (Yes, she's going to hate me for telling this!) where she sat for about an hour reading a magazine I supplied her and waiting for rescue. Louise saw one of the contractors on the road and asked him to come help. It was all too funny, and I doubt she'll ever live it down around here!

We then picked up Sagaria and the two cows of meat to go feed the wild dogs and the lions. The number of times I've done this is in the teens now, but I doubt I will ever feel comfortable standing or sitting that close to lions with only that thin wire between us.... especially since King and Queen both charged the fence!

At the end of the day Andre took Susanne and I for a beautiful game drive. The temperature was perfect, the late-afternoon sun filtering through the trees, the animals beginning to either end their day or begin their busy night. We found the elephants near a road, cut the engine and sat silently for about ten minutes. The babies and moms wandered off through the trees in the other direction, but two browsed their way over toward us. They would eat, occasionally scenting our direction, and then calmly go back to what they were doing. Eventually they were only about 20 yards from us. It was so fabulous to see them so calm and assured of safety. They've come a very long way in the year they've been in SanWild's protection. On the way back to camp just before dark we spotted a couple of dwarf mongooses scampering across the road and then, farther along, a very rare site: a pair of honey badgers! Susanne and I were both so happy with the drive. Andre is always fun, and the sightings were so rare...

Back To Miller's Diary