Tales of the Solberg: There and Back Again

Another month has passed here at N/a ‘an ku se and the rains continue to bring new challenges here in Namibia. Roads are swept away and the vegetation has doubled in size.

Here at N/a ‘an ku se I have continued to assist with research, leading groups of volunteers to distribute camera traps, conduct game counts, and practice my tracking skills. Every day is a new challenge and I look forward to spending more of my time here at N/a ‘an ku se!

The month of February proved to be a special month when Rudie (founder of N/a ‘an ku se along with Marlice) announced he would be dedicating more of his time to N/a ‘an ku se. Staff and volunteers came together for the announcement along with a special Valentines dinner. It wasn’t long after, N/a ‘an ku se staff and volunteers united to film a “Thank you” for some special sponsors. We lit lanterns and set them off into the rising sun. View the link posted below!

Thank you for your support Video by Lynsey Gedman.

Cheetah Run:

One of the new activities I’ve been leading is the cheetah run. It consists of a battery operated fixed-wheel that spins. Attaching a length of rope around the wheel and placing two or more pulleys in the ground creates a rope circuit. When I operate the machine, the rope is pulled through the pulleys placed on the ground of the animal’s enclosure. A small rag attached to the rope creates a moving lure that attracts the cheetahs. The movement of the rag triggers instinct and the cheetahs give chase. It’s not research related, but the activity is a great means for exercising captive cheetahs. It is also a great experience for volunteers to see cheetahs run and their amazing adaptations for speed. Their thick tail for balance, slim build, large airways, and fixed claws for traction make speed an educational experience.

Meet Cubby:

Our orphaned six month old male cheetah cub. He's got quite the attitude!

Bobby:

Another addition to the farm is our baby baboon Bobby. The man responsible for shooting his mother was kind enough to bring Bobby to N/a ‘an ku se. Volunteers take turns taking Bobby for the night, bottle feeding the ten week old baboon. We’ve provided him with the best life we can here at the sanctuary. Orphaned baboons are a common issue. When they lose their fear of humans, they invade gardens, farms, and wreak havoc. Tourists should refrain from feeding such animals, as it just fuels the problem. By feeding baboons you alter the animal’s behavior and its role in the environment. Thankfully, Bobby is settling in well. We’ve bonded and I can tell you he’s quite the handful! He enjoys putting everything in his mouth and climbing about unsuspecting victims. Taking care of such an intelligent animal makes you think twice about having children.

The Caracal:

After losing two geese and a few rabbits to a predator at camp, I worked with staff to setup a box trap to catch the culprit. Our plan was to capture and relocate the problem animal. Using a rabbit that had been killed during the attack, I dragged the bait a fair distance and set the rabbit in the box trap. After a week of attempts I awoke to find a small female Caracal in the box trap. She was nestled deep in the grass, barely visible. Unfortunately it wasn’t long before she was out again. During an attempt to move the Caracal to a smaller box (for transport), the cat made a swift escape out the side! The door to the small kennel fell off and we had a wild Caracal on our hands in a small room with myself and four staff members. I felt the adrenaline kick in as the cat faced me, hissing. We managed to return the cat to the large box and agreed to work with what we had. But we learn from our mistakes.

Update on Tyson and Brown Hyaena:

Both the released leopard (Tyson) and brown hyaena are doing exceptionally well. Tyson was reported to have killed a mountain zebra during his first three days post release. And despite our predictions to return to her formal home range in the south, the brown hyaena has been heading north following the mountain range.

Swakopmund:

My best experience this month was neither a professional experience nor animal related. Two weekends ago I traveled to a small town off the coast called Swakopmund. Robin, Lynsey, Sean, and I enjoyed the beach, beautiful weather, delicious food, and a trek across the Moonscape. The Moonscape proved to be an experience in itself. This strange geological feature was smack dab in the middle of the desert, just outside of Swakopmund. But even across the Moonscape, there are signs of life. Springbok, Ostrich, and small critters find the means to survive in such an extreme environment. It makes you appreciate life, and how precious water can be.

But our adventure didn’t end there! For the first time in my life I jumped out of a plane! Robin, Sean, and I endured a ten minute safety lecture and before I knew it my legs were swaying out of a plane 10,000 feet above the desert. We had signed ourselves up for a tandem sky dive. But sometimes you have to fall to get back up, even if it’s out of the sky.