Species care (so far)

Well hello there...

I have a whole lot of catching up to do since I haven't blogged in about 3 weeks because I am seriously just too busy.

So here we go, 3 weeks worth of news...

On our first day, we as old site guide team, proved that we can work hard and we can work as a team.  We had to pick up a bale (grass ball as animal food), which is heavier than the five of us together, and load it onto the Mahindra.  After a few (failed) attempts, we got it on, all thanks to a bright idea from one of the students, Mornè.  We used Y-standards and rolled the bale over the railings and onto the Mahindra.



We've been observing how to do the preparing of the milk and meat and the feeding of animals.  We've watched how to do the spot checks and what to look for when doing a spot check.  We've learned how to unpack unit standars, it's just what is expected from us during this course.

On the second day, we participated in the release of one of the vultures that the Wildlife Centre had rehabilitated, it was amazing to see and it almost brought tears to my eyes.  Some people hurt animals, but we now have the power to nurse them back to health and give them a good life.  In the photo you'll see someone keeping the beak shut, that's because this animal can remove your fingers for you.

On the third day, we prepared meat by ourselves for the first time, we did our first assessments, which was on preparing food and feeding.

I also prepared the milk for the first time by myself and did my first nightshift with Michelle, unfortunately one of our baby zebras died and contradicting to what people say, a zebra's mane does NOT fall down when he is sick, not even when he is dead.

In loving memory of Damian

For the first time in my life, I had to slaughter something, although it was just the legs of a blesbuck, it was a huge step for me.  At first, I was acting like a little girl around the meat, since it was the worst smell in the world (it had been standing out for a few days), but after a while, I was playing with the bones, using the blesbuck's leg to kick my team mate, Elani.  Funny enough, Elani and I, the two girls could stomach the smell and do the job but not the boys, who started gagging and had to go stand outside.  I wanted to kick him with the buck's leg too, but I couldn't since he ran away.

Most of what we do, is routine by now, prepare meat in the morning, go feed meat and milk, do spot checks on cages. Prepare milk, (afternoon, evening and morning feed), feed milk.  Go on lunch.  We do random jobs around the centre, like raking up hay and manure and taking it to the compost heap.  We then prepare meat for evening feed and then go feed.  We clean up the Preparation Room, do daily schedules and then we head home around 5pm.  At species care, it becomes very routine after a while but it's a lot of responsibility, you have lives in your hands, it's exhilirating...

In the second week, we finally had our lecture on animal care and how to go into the cages.  It's amazing to be that close to a wild animal and even though you may say that they are tame, you can take an animal out of the wild but you can't take the wild out of an animal.  Want proof?  Read further in this blog.

What you should be wearing while fire fighting.

During the course, we took off half a day to go and do some fire fighting training, did my adrenalin glands work overtime or what?!  So we (girls) were told that if there was a fire, we would most likely not be part of the fighting self but we will be apart of the support system.  Now, on one side this is disappointing and at first I thought, maybe a little sexist too, we were indirectly being told we are not strong enough to participate but then things were explained.  That's where the other side comes in, it's fine by me if we don't get to fight, I never want to see a man burn alive and have that image (and smell) stuck in my head.  No, thank you.  Although I do believe, if push comes to shove, I'll be able to help fight a fire.

We cleaned the store room on one of the days, which from my point of view was pretty scary.  No lights, lots of dust and hiding places for creepy crawlies...
Our group may not be perfect and we may joke around a lot but we get the job done, no matter what.

I also cut of my first tree and yeah you might think it's unethical since I'm supposed to me a nature conservationist but it's for a good cause.  We are busy preparing a new cage for the two lions, Lex and Max. The cage they're in now is too small and they are becoming too big, so we are making them a new home.  We have to cut of trees that are too close to the fence or hang over the fence so once the lions are in, they can't get out by means of climbing trees.

Here is the proof: On Thursday, 7 April, we went into the Aviary to do spot checks, the two banded mongoose started playing with me so I gave them attention and kept them busy while the others finished the job.  On leaving, I put them down but the female mongoose, Juliet decided she wanted more attention.  She latched onto my wrist with her teeth.  It bled a lot and had to go to the doctor to get a Tetenis injection, I was told to watch Juliet, if she died within 48 hours of the attack, she had Rabies.  Four days later, she's still alive. (Sigh of relief).


I'm enjoying this course since I'm exploring my love of animals which is more intense than I ever thought.  I love all the animals already and when we have to leave, it's going to be hard.

On one of the cold days, Dobby, a bushbaby, was brought into the clinic, this is him grooming me.

For some reason the animals like my face, this is Roxy, a dassie which slept on my head during night shift duty.

In the next few days, I will create a whole blog with only photos of our animals and some details about them.  Interesting facts that I learned:

• You can  use human urine in a compost heap.
• If an animal urinates on you, he is marking you, get out of the cage because the next step in completing the marking procedure, leaving his claw marks on you.

Talk to you soon...