Wildlife Rehabilitation and Alien Plants

Tuesday – 3.15 am. I woke and sat bolt upright in bed as I heard a loud sound – I thought it was an elephant outside my door. Bravely I got out of bed and peered outside but nothing there. The next day I discovered that Brass had heard it too but it was lions near the camp in the bush.

Tuesday we worked on the erosion in the bush – we took lots of palm branches and dead leaves and laid them in the troughs so that when the rain come it won’t cause more erosion. We then went and collected sand from the Dam and transported it to the ‘roads’ – build like sleeping policeman.
We then had a lecture on the integration of blacks and whites after apartheid in 1994/5. It was really interesting to see how the laws have changed to try and protect the interests of the black population but what’s not been realised is the impact on the conservation areas. There is something called land reclaim which means that property can be reclaimed by the original owners even if it was purchased legally. At the moment there are 73 outstanding claims in the Kruger National Park which if they are upheld means the Kruger may not exist by 2011!!

In the afternoon we went to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre where they look after injured animals and birds or where they are no longer wanted by their owners. We saw loads of birds of prey and the big cats. It was good to be able to see the lions up close. On the way back home we saw a heard of zebras just inside the gates of the camp but it was dusk so I couldn’t take a photo.

Wednesday – today we went out into the bush to get rid of the ‘Alien plants’ which are mainly cacti that don’t belong here and take all the moisture from the soil which is killing the indigenous plants. Very satisfying work but the number of thorns in my hands legs and bum was staggering.

Today we had a lecture on Hunting and anti poaching. Again it is so interesting to see the story from inside the country and the necessity for such an activity. Hunting here is extremely controlled, necessary and legal (I never thought I'd see the day when I would agree) When I get back I'll tell you about it. What the outside world is not aware of is how much poaching is done is South Africa and how cruel it is - again I'll share it when I get back

Spoke to our Rubes last night and she’s still making progress and Ceri has printed off some of my photos to show her – so she’s pleased about that.

Off to have a shower now – will have more to say later