Zululand Rhino Reserve Newsletters - December 2007

Firstly I would like to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous 2008.

This is our first Newsletter for the year and my intentions are to try and send one out monthly so please send in your interesting bits of info and any news which may be of interest to us.( eg. happy happenings, new babies, grandchildren, birthdays, anniversary milestones etc.)   This is not a Management Report but rather a more personal way of us all hearing about the other interesting things happening in the Reserve.

78 mm of rain during December!!!!

Interesting animal sightings

Henk had an amazing sighting at his waterhole on Kido.  He saw 2 White Rhino, a Black Rhino and a Buffalo Bull all lying in the same pool of mud during the midday heat.   He said it was very interesting to him as he had never seen these animals all together.
11/12  Ryan observed a very Big Leopard tortoise on Leopard Mt.
He also saw a Python the size of an adult leg.
15/12  Dylan and Karen saw a large Plated Lizard at Okalweni and got some good photos of it.
30/12  Big male leopard seen by Willem on the district road at Mavela
During November about a dozen neighbours were enjoying a swim in the River at Budhlweni on Leopard Mountain in water that was about a meter deep and behind the rocks about 2 metres deep.   The water was so warm the beers were being held out of the water to keep cool. Ryan set up his camera at the same spot early in December and a Crocodile was observed coming out of the water and sunning himself right where I had been sunning myself…..   Needless to say future swims will be confined to the Lodge pool.

The breeding herd of Elephants moved away from the Msunduze during December to the central and northern sections of the reserve as well as the 2 bull elephants.

On our way back from a wonderful New Years Eve Party at Iqina, Clive and I observed a Spotted Hyena between de Haas’ property and the Bayete Zulu Fence.   We were also forced to reverse for about 500m for a large male buffalo who was intent on making his way from Smits drift to the old November 1 site and after a New Years Eve party this was quite an interesting maneuver.

Black Rhino

The following interesting sightings were reported by Denzil.
On Sunday 30th December Hector radioed me whilst driving towards our main gate saying that he had sited 2 Black Rhino resting close to the road under some trees, near where the baboons are located.
I watched them for a good 30 mins, contacted Karen who identified the one as Ngwelezana and later described the 2nd one via sms - not sure his/her name.
They eventually moved off towards Chaos so I continued on my drive and did a loop named by Guy Hamlin as "Hidden Valley" where I came up against another 2, but further away from me on the crest of a ridge.
Unfortunately they were down wind of me and both took off at a fair pace so was not able to identify - the one was much smaller than the other - not sure whether younger or the one known as Mpunjane "midget" in Zulu??
Karen and Dylan also saw the two young males Xosha and Ndawonye lying in a dam at Mavela as well as the very big female named Njengendota in the dam at Chaos.

It was a blistering hot day which might account for them being out mid afternoon and lying low in the shade.

On Sunday 13th Jan Hector had a Game viewer loaded with guests and they spent 3 or so minutes photoing another Black rhino near Sanctuary - a popular area for them. All very excited and happy to witness.

Re. Baboons. A report received from Guy Hamlin.
We released 11 animals and 4 promptly went walk about.  Long story short – 3 came back and unfortunately a young male has not been seen again.  Sadly the one pregnant female miscarried.  However there is still one heavily pregnant female so hopefully there will be better news next month. 

We have reduced our monitoring and supplement feeding down to once every three days at present.  We will further reduce this to every five days shortly and cease the feeding and monitoring completely from end of Jan. 

All indications are that we could cease the supplementary feeding now because our observations reveal extensive feeding on the food naturally available (seeds, fruit and grubs).   

Another very pleasing aspect is that when approached in a game viewer or any other vehicle their reaction is to either maintain a watchful distance or move off to one.  This is contrary to the widely held belief, and our biggest concern, that due to their familiarity to humans they would gravitate in all respects towards humans.  Thus far it is evident that the rehabilitation process is working – they experience the absolute minimum human contact and if so always from within a vehicle.  The feeding is also done in a controlled manner to ensure there can be no association with humans – the food is delivered at different times (generally 2-4 hours before daybreak) and in different places.  However, it must be said that it is still early days in so far as their ultimate rehabilitation can be judged a success – the real test will be to make it through the coming autumn and winter months. 

Nevertheless, to date, the release has been a resounding success and there is something special and unique about this introduction especially when one considers that this is probably the first time baboons have roamed this particular area in 20 – 25 years and to hear their barking once again is heartening indeed.  And especially if one takes into account that at their current mortality rates it is quite likely that baboons will be extinct within 15 years.

Just blown away by the abundance of everything – grasses, fruit, butterflies, snakes, impala, ‘hogs, and wildebeest!!!!!!

Mike Balcomb kindly compiled a summary of the interesting sightings and all sorts of happenings on Abu Madi for the year 2007. Please see attached – Summary  2007.

CRECHE:
As I am sure you all know we were approached to assist with a Creche for 36 little ones many of whom are children of ZRR staff as well as Aids orphans who presently are using a hut at Induna Mabuyakhulu's kraal.  Building has started and hopefully the roof sheeting will be donated by Federated Timbers Richards Bay.  A letter went out to the ladies of the ZRR to assist with unwanted toys, books, balls etc. If you are able to assist in any way this would be appreciated.
Many thanks to those who have offered to help.

I have asked Mkuze Club to let us know when they have their special evenings which were very enjoyable last year.  A nice time for us to get together.

Next:    Watch what you wish for:

A guy was in a cave, looking for treasure. He found an old lamp, rubbed it, and a genie appeared and said "I will grant you three wishes, but your ex-wife will get double."
The man agreed, and said "I wish I had a mansion." The genie granted it, and his ex-wife got two mansions. The man said "I would like a million dollars." The genie again granted it and his ex-wife got two million dollars. The man thought carefully and then said, "Scare me half to death."

Lastly, I have had this poem for many years and thought I would share it with you.

The TREE

Let us pause for the taking of inventory,
To measure the debt we owe the tree.
For the searching root that knits the soil
The cooling shade for those who toil
The air we breathe, natures greatest gift
And the leaf that heralds each seasons shift.

Forget not the fruit that feeds man and beast
The branch that burns to prepare the feast
That sturdy frame that builds the home
And the paper on which you read this poem,
The Tree gives all and asks no prize
Even making the axe that ends its life.

If you have any suggestions for this Newsletter please don’t hesitate to send me an email on kathleen@leopardmountain.co.za.  Please keep sending all your interesting info. for the month of January.

Have a good month!!