More adventures to whet your appetite for the extraordinary

Guys! I am having so much fun! And thanks so much for all of your comments. I'm smiling like crazy now sitting in front of this computer.

So, on to what I've been up to. I helped to save a cheetah's life. Her name was Savannah, and she was being kept in the boma (an enclosure) in quaruntine before she could be released into the rest of the reserve. She needed to be darted so we could attach a radio collar and then take measurements of her teeth, paws, etc. so we could identify her prints and then if she killed anything or anybody we could use her teeth marks to tell if it was her or not. And also we could tell in subsequent captures if she was growing properly. Anyways, she ended up having a very severe allergic reaction to the drugs, and she went into shock. We (the ten volunteers standing around gaping at all of this) and all of our waterbottles were recruited to run like crazy back and forth between the fenceline of the boma, where her body was, and the watering hole in the interior. We shuttled water back and forth for an hour at least and we were able to keep her temperature down enough that she survived the ordeal after eventaully being carted off to the clinic in the back of an SUV.

On a separate occassion, we managed to get our truck relatively stuck with half of the hyena clan. The jueviniles were coming up and sniffing the bumper of our car--they were very very cute. And thier mother (Giggles) was digging around in the dam we were next to. She eventually retrieved a wildebeast leg she had cached there and feed the juveniles and then they all wandered off and we were able to get ourselves safely unstuck and back on the road. We got stuck again the next day, in the middle of the hottest day on earth, in the middle of a drainage that intersected with the road. I laid down in the only patch of shade I could find in the middle of the water for a half an hour before the calvary came to rescue us. It turns out we didn't need rescuing and we weren't even really stuck. Our staff member had not locked the wheels.

We have had a number of interesting and slightly freaky bug visitors in our house. We caputred one of them and are keeping him as a pet now--a solifuge named Loppy. Look up solifuges on google. They are freaky--and apparently they run to your shadow, so they will actually chase you around the house as long as you have your light on and are running away from them.

I am getting used to things here, really starting to settle in. And I am learning all sorts of things--pseudopenises included. And all the time I'm thinking of different things to research but I don't even have a library I can use anymore, do I? Everyone at the house is pretty much fantastic. The food could be improved for sure, but our fridge doesn't really keep things cold and our freezer doesn't freeze anything so there's not much we can do.

Ok, I'm off to help do the chores in town. Please be good without me. You'll get the picture of Luther next week, I hope.

Happy trails!

Happy as a Lion

Well, fellows I have only been here a week and I've already had enough adventures for a lifetime. These include, but are not limited to: having a hyena drag our trash out of our kitchen and into the yard, sleeping out under the stars with a bunch of scorpions, nearly running smack into a very large territorial bull hippo (we saw almost the full threat display--very impressive), walking to within five meters of a male cheetah coalition, and getting very very close to three of the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen (male lions: Lex, Luther, and Zero). I have already fallen head over toes for Luther, which is unfortunate for Jeff. I will have fantastic pictures and videos when I return, and I'll try to get you all a picture of Luther when I am able to post again, so that you too may fall in love with him.

Every night I am so tired that I fall right asleep and don't even hear all the animals outside peering in through the windows (no exaggeration). That's a good thing I suppose, but its kind of a shame. I'd like to see the hyena (Giggles) looking at me at 4 in the morning. I haven't seen her yet.

Ok, I've got to run around the mall here in town and run errands for everyone else back at the reserve. I'm having fun, and I'm keeping a full species list for anyone interested. Maybe I can post a bit of it later.

Keep on keeping on, and don't miss me too much. And Arjun, there are few women I would recommend you to. And my poor fish died!!!! Thanks for taking care of them Laura!

Love you all very much, and thanks for the comments. They make me happy!

Happy trails.

Tired and happy

Hooray for surviving the plane ride with 1-2 hours of sleep, and at least four movies (including Wallace and Grommit)! I'm in my hostel and have been talking to people from all over the world and am extremely ready for bed and to head out to the wildlife tomorrow. I'd like to talk more, tons more, but I only have three minutes left to post this on a dial up computer. So, be good and I will too!

On the eve of the 17 hour plane ride

I've had about as many problems as I intend to have over the course of the entire trip, and I'm finally almost ready to get on the plane tomorrow. I had a fantastic time visiting Norton and Ralph the Whale Sharks at the Georgia aquarium and poor Jeffrey is already starting to look lonely. He'll get over it. So, we'll see how interesting my blogging ends up, although I know I'll only have internet access about every two weeks. So no promises, guys.

I'm quite ready to wake up with zebras in my front yard and go to sleep with lions roaring in the background. Try not to miss me too much, guys, and I'll try to make sure I get home in one piece.