| Sun 22 June 2008 15:51:27 - Diary by Jao Poachers enter SanWild For the last 2 weeks we have been preparing ourselves for the coming full moon cycle when poachers are very active in the area. On Friday this week, Mr. Andre picked up tracks in the reserve near hide dam. There were 3 guys and the spoor indicated that it was the same people (shoe and boots the same) that have been poaching on adjoining farms. During the winter months (when water is scarce as we are in a summer rainfall area), poaching around waterholes can increase substantially when snares are set in the game footpaths leading up to the waterholes. We scouted the area and then made to sure erase our footprints as to not alert the poachers that we knew they had entered the reserve. We found no snares but did find that some of the termite mounds that had warthog burrows inside had been cleverly marked. It is obvious that the poachers had entered the reserve to scout around to see which burrows had warthogs living inside. It is our opinion that they will come soon under cover of darkness to hunt and kill the warthogs. However we will be waiting for them! | |
| Fri 13 June 2008 17:18:16 - Diary by Lucky Leopard on patrol It was late afternoon about 2 weeks ago and we have just returned from a patrol to scout around waterholes for possible snares or poaching activities. Jao and myself had to break for lunch and we decided to climb up into a hide that had been placed at the waterhole by previous landowners from where many animals had been hunted that came to drink water. The empty bullet cases found below the hide in the grass proves beyond doubt that a lot of killing took place here. However since the land was bought by SanWild, hunting had seized here and when fences were removed late in 2006, the animals from SanWild moves across to make a new home here. It was nice for us to sit high above the ground and eat some lunch as we did not disturb any animal wanting to visit the waterhole. I have just opened my backpack when Jao pulled at my arm and pointed down below. It was amazing - a leopard female and her cub walked past below the hide and crouched down to drink. The young cub however was not interested in drinking, he (or she) thought it much more enjoyable to stalk and try and catch some of the many grey loeries and pigeons that came to the water's edge to drink. Sadly it had no success and the birds just flew away. The mother leopard decided to move into a shady spot and the young leopard continued its efforts to find a suitable "prey". It would however soon regret its adventurous journey when a warthog family trotted up to the water. The leopard female was down wind from them and they could not smell her at all. Somehow they also missed the presence of the young cub trying to find its feet along the muddy areas around the dam. The family trotted in straight for the water and as they came across the dam wall, they ended up almost right on top of the cub. With a heavy grunt the warthog boar charged and the cub having no where else to go ran straight into the water. Fortunately all ended well. The warthogs dashed off leaving behind a very wet young leopard. | |
| Fri 13 June 2008 17:03:18 - Diary by Bambo Intelligence essential When we first started our patrols we did mostly day patrols to scout for poachers tracks. The routes followed by the poachers to get to SanWild and the surrounding farms are well-known to Mr. Andre and he has excellent knowledge of their movement. Anyone knowing about what is involved with counter poaching activities will tell you the most important aspect leading to success or failure is the knowledge you have gained about your "target" or enemy. To know their movements, their access routes, their preferred times of operation, ect. is essential and fortunately when we arrived this was already available. Within our first week we have two encounters with poachers and managed to seize most of their weapons and shoot some of their hunting dogs. Personally I think this scared them and they could not understand how all of a sudden SanWild's people were so quick to respond and were right there where they entered. They could not know that a good bit of luck was on our side as well, but as the saying goes "if you do not have a line in the water, you cannot catch a fish". As it may be, it was good for us and our moral. | |
| Fri 13 June 2008 16:54:41 - Diary by Jao Red Hartebeest calf I was happy to see red hartebeest at SanWild. In the Kalahari where I was born and grew up as a child, they are common. This fast antelope is very beautiful and very fast. Here at SanWild they do not occur in large numbers and all of the animals that live here were rescued after they were either injured or orphaned during game relocation operations. I have counted 11 animals in total and reported last week that a new calf had been born. It is very small, but is keeping up with the herd. Soon the other females will also give birth as it is their time now to do so, and more calves will be around to play with the new one. | |
| Fri 13 June 2008 16:50:17 - Diary by Augusto Elephant foot paths Here at SanWild our team has met many new animals and we have also had the opportunity to see elephants which has been absolutely great for us. Where we worked previously there was no elephants and we have come to respect and appreciate the work of these great giants. Patrolling the bush is sometimes difficult and we have to ensure that our footprints are not seen and picked up on the pathways and roads. For us to be successful it is essential that our presence and whereabouts is kept hidden from local workers and labor staff in the reserve. We therefore need to keep our patrols in thick bush many of the times and this is where it is great working with the elephants. They have opened up clear pathways for us to use during out patrols and their large feet have pushed grasses and branches down quite solidly which helps to hide our footprints. Off course we are always alert to ensure that we do not run into the elephants on patrol, but they are certainly our partners in this exercise. | |
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Augusto Gomes
Bambo Gomes
Jao Nunu
Burger Kandome
Lucky Malatsi
Butitjie Mlangen