This afternoon we left for Matopos to check traps that are set for leopards and hyena. It was about an hour and a half trip to get there. And we are camping! After we set up the tent and got everything settled we set out to start checking and rebaiting some of the traps. We had to put new meat in two of the traps and change SD cards in a bunch of the cameras. Tomorrow we will rebait the rest of the traps. The daughter of the owners of one of the properties the traps are set is a veteran of the British Army and she was a canine handler. She was able to adopt one of her dogs who was patrol and IED because he was afraid of gun fire. She is in the process of training him as well as several other dogs for the anti poaching task force. So the animals are trained to sniff out snares as well as track animal spor. Some of them are trained in apprehension as well. It was interesting to talk to her because there are not ENOUGH homes for retired military dogs here. Hard to imagine when there is an 18 month waiting list at home. She also said they are not careful at all about when one is adopted out, they do not spend the time evaluating the animal to decide how suitable it is for adoption like it is done in the U.S. Nor do they give them any disclosures about what the dog has done and any possible triggers. They basically shove them out the kennel door and say here you go!
It does get cold here at night as soon as the sun goes down! Matopos is known for its Rock formations. There are rocks that look like they are going to come rolling down on top of you any minute- they are balanced so carefully. Other ones look like a child piled them on top of each other like building blocks.
July 21, 2016
Today started out early!! 5 am! We made breakfast and then set out to check the traps and change some more camera cards. When I first arrived in Africa it was a lot unnerving to hear the lions while you where falling asleep and then last night it was so quiet and odd NOT hearing the lions! While we were checking the traps we saw zebra, wildebeasts, and giraffes! All before 730 am!
We spent the morning rebaiting and resetting traps. We also looked at some of the SD cards to see what animals were around the traps. On one there was a leopard about a half hour after we left.
We ate lunch and watched a group of baboons and warthogs running around. The amount of wildlife you see here seems surreal, especially when you think about what we we at home... Squirrels and raccoons and rabbits....
I don't think the pictures of the scenery will do it any justice. You can see forever!!! You feel like you are on top of the world and the only person for miles and miles. The air is so quiet, there is no background noise or light pollution. The rock formations in Matopos are just beautiful.
As we are driving around changing SD cards we are dragging the hind end of a calf to create a scent trail....
The sunsets here are beautiful. The colors are indescribable and I tried to take some pictures but the camera could not capture the colors.
July 22, 2016
Another early morning today! We started out again checking the traps and cameras. We were able to see zebras, giraffes, and wildebeasts grazing first thing too! The zebra are very naughty! Yesterday we watched them chase some warthogs around, this morning they were chasing baboons. We came across a dead female wildebeast but the owners of the property said they have been watching her for a little while and she was not doing well. There are guards on one of the properties at night and during the day because of the poaching problem. The police don't do much about it, they have other priorities so the chances of them responding, between the stay aways, lack of transportation and cost of fuel.
Most the of the vehicles here are diesel, it is cheaper for them and they are longer lasting and sturdier.
We are back at the orphanage!! Checked cameras and traps this morning. Having a bar b q for Ryan's birthday tonight!
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