Till Friday 6th March 2009 - This week has not been without its ups and downs. Monday, I felt completely overwhelmed, unsure where to turn and questioning myself as to why I was here. My workload seemed to increasing by the minute, with several deadlines looming, although the amount of work wasn't the real issue. The work is a challenge, creating business plans, quarterly reports, activities for children, but it takes time to learn new skills and I was becoming increasingly frustrated by the system, nothing being up-to-date and I couldn't locate the information I needed.
Thankfully this was just a blip, and after a quick chat with Carli, the Park Manager, I was back on track, a happier bunny. So happy in fact that I have made the decision to try and extend my visa to enable me to stay in South Africa until January 2010. With the current financial crisis, there seems little to come home for at the moment, I miss family and friends of course, but I am sure they can cope without me a little longer! I'd like to complete a full year to experience all the seasons and be involved with Kids in Parks at Bontebok, which is scheduled for October and November. I therefore have to deal with the nice people at Home Affairs, wish me luck.The end of the week, bought great excitement with Game Capture. The veld at Bontebok National Park can sustain between 130 to 170 Bontebok, with numbers currently in excess of 230 including babies, we needed to re home around 80. Wednesday saw the arrival of SANParks Game Capture Unit, who proceeded to set up the external structure of the boma (pen) of posts and cables, with the help of our Field Rangers. Whilst setting up the boma I heard one of the guys say 'It's easy, like Sunday morning', which brought a smile to my face. The structure would be covered with drop nets the following morning to ensure no overnight casualties.
As the African sun silently rose over the veld, Thursday morning, it is soon time to begin. After debriefing, everyone took their position. The blades of the helicopter slowly rotating, whirling faster and faster until it finally lifted off the ground and into the cloudless sky.
The first herd of Bontebok driven by the helicopter galloped straight past the boma, narrowly missing the group of eager to help Cape Nature students crouched behind a bush cluster. I resisted the urge to cheer, secretly not wanting them to take our Bonte!
The initial shaky start was soon forgotten, as herd after herd of Bontebok were driven into the boma. The helicopter pilot confirming the encasement of the antelope, with a dramatic siren, giving opportunity to rangers to run across the boma, closing the net gates, and driving the animals to the capture nets, where they become entangled. The first batch I have to admit bought a tear to my eye, seeing the animals so distressed.
The rangers then grab the Bontebok by the horns (ears if dealing with a lamb), removing them from the net, holding them until a tranquilizer could be administered and a blood sample taken, the animal were then loaded onto a container for transportation. A job, easier said than done, the Bontebok having great strength, kicking and bucking, struggling to break free. Even the little ones were feisty and gave the Rangers a run for their money.
One Bontebok made a leap for freedom from the truck, flying through the air with his handler still attached, the guy never let go for a second, which was pretty impressive.
As official paparazzi for the event as soon as the siren hit my ears, I was off sprinting across the veld with my cameras, manoeuvring myself through the nets and into the boma. Amidst clouds of dust, it was difficult to determine who was leading who, with men being flung this way and that, dragged by the frightened Bontebok, it certainly wasn't the safest place to be and I did question my rationality. But yet I found myself in the boma, time and time again enjoying the adrenaline.
Continuing until the heat of the day was too much, the first morning proved very successful, with the capture of 65 Bontebok, and just one incident, this being the loss of a horn for one lamb during capture. The lambs are usually caught and held by the ears, because their horns can be removed, whilst very young.
Game capture continued the following morning, I stay in the boma for the final capture of just 13 Bontebok, crouched behind a bush until the moment of truth, not having the strengthen to hold one the antelopes I assisted placing plastic tubes on the horns of a bull, which was pretty scary in itself.
The total captured now 78 including lambs. 40 of the Bontebok being sold to two private land owners, and the remains 38 transferred to the Agulhas Biosphere Initiative. Although game capture is naturally distressing to the animals involved, to reduce the stress levels of the antelope, the team endeavored to keep family group together and mothers with their babies.
Photo is Luzan (Zan for short) in action and 7 months pregnant! Wanting to experience game capture she omitted to tell her supervisor her condition. Naughty girl!
Till Sunday 22nd March 2009 (Mothering Sunday) - Having slept in the room doubling as the laundry room, the window left open for all the washing machine piping, I wake with a face like dot to dot puzzle having been attacked in the night by the local mozis! Welcome to Agulhas!
Friday groups were The Dolphins v The Lions, and with them a bitter sweet. One of the girls was a quiet as a mouse, so quiet in fact the other girls didn't even know her name. She was such a cutie I could have taken her home, surely her mother wouldn't miss her that much!
