Easter Sunday 12 April 2009 - Kirsteen graciously gives me the opportunity to join Koketso and Aubrey on the Cheetah Project run by predator expert Dr Gus Mills.Avoiding three black backed jackals enjoying daybreak, we drive off road, we bump over red dunes to the last location Charlize the cheetah was seen. It is believed that the cheetah, named after the famous South African actress Charlize Theron, has given birth in the last couple of days, and we are hoping to determine how many cubs have been born.
Dr Gus Mills, carnivore specialist, is completing a five year study of the Kalahari cheetah. There is a high mortality rate of the cubs within the species, the young felines being susceptible to starvation and attacks from other larger predators such as lions and hyaenas.
Sitting on top of a crimson bank, radio waves confirm that the collared cat is still in situ under a shallow tree, this itself being evidence that there are cubs present.
Now we play a waiting game, hoping mum leaves to hunt. So we sit as the sun rises, watching the dark space below the tree through binos waiting for any movement, however slight. Three Kori Bustards are feeding in the long grass and I get distracted with the mating rituals of the Toktokkies, the black beetles along side the vehicle, the males tapping their abdomens against the sands in different rhythms to attract a mate.
Sitting for several hours, there is occasional movement and we were able to decipher a head and pair of ears in the shadows, but no real visual. Determining she must have eaten the previous day, we head home. Surprisingly I don't feel disappointment, I have had an amazing unique experience, many conservationists would give their right arm to get the opportunity to pick the brains of the predator mastermind.
Invited to the home of Kirsteens P & C Officer, Christine, for afternoon tea (or fly cup and fancy piece as my Scottish friend calls it), time is limited, but we still take the chance to travel in to the Park, so we take the Nossob road and head to Melkvei.
Approaching the large Sociable Weavers nest constructed by the tiny birds in tree boughs, we find several people including children illegally out of their vehicles under said tree! Are these people crazy?!? As we pull up they hurriedly return to their 4x4s, guiltily one informs us of the cape cobra in the nest eating the eggs. I repeat - Are these people crazy?!? Not mentioning the dangerous predators living within the Park, snakes do fall out of of trees! A bite from one of those babies will give you a 40% survival rate!
Sandwiches eaten we head back enjoying the landscape. We run late for our engagement as we spot a black maned Kalahari lion on the hillside, making his presence known with his destinctive roaring.
A fly cup and fancy piece is enjoyed with Christine, husband and Section Ranger Nardus, Gus and Margie Mills, Gus's 93 year old Mother and Marna.
Dr Gus Mills, carnivore specialist, is completing a five year study of the Kalahari cheetah. There is a high mortality rate of the cubs within the species, the young felines being susceptible to starvation and attacks from other larger predators such as lions and hyaenas.
Sitting on top of a crimson bank, radio waves confirm that the collared cat is still in situ under a shallow tree, this itself being evidence that there are cubs present.
Now we play a waiting game, hoping mum leaves to hunt. So we sit as the sun rises, watching the dark space below the tree through binos waiting for any movement, however slight. Three Kori Bustards are feeding in the long grass and I get distracted with the mating rituals of the Toktokkies, the black beetles along side the vehicle, the males tapping their abdomens against the sands in different rhythms to attract a mate.
Sitting for several hours, there is occasional movement and we were able to decipher a head and pair of ears in the shadows, but no real visual. Determining she must have eaten the previous day, we head home. Surprisingly I don't feel disappointment, I have had an amazing unique experience, many conservationists would give their right arm to get the opportunity to pick the brains of the predator mastermind.
Invited to the home of Kirsteens P & C Officer, Christine, for afternoon tea (or fly cup and fancy piece as my Scottish friend calls it), time is limited, but we still take the chance to travel in to the Park, so we take the Nossob road and head to Melkvei.
Approaching the large Sociable Weavers nest constructed by the tiny birds in tree boughs, we find several people including children illegally out of their vehicles under said tree! Are these people crazy?!? As we pull up they hurriedly return to their 4x4s, guiltily one informs us of the cape cobra in the nest eating the eggs. I repeat - Are these people crazy?!? Not mentioning the dangerous predators living within the Park, snakes do fall out of of trees! A bite from one of those babies will give you a 40% survival rate!
Sandwiches eaten we head back enjoying the landscape. We run late for our engagement as we spot a black maned Kalahari lion on the hillside, making his presence known with his destinctive roaring.
A fly cup and fancy piece is enjoyed with Christine, husband and Section Ranger Nardus, Gus and Margie Mills, Gus's 93 year old Mother and Marna.
