Shirley's farewell blog

Shirley’s Farewell Blog

June 17, 2012

The time has flown since my arrival May 23rd at Thaba Tholo and the Ingwe Leopard Research Program.  Tuesday, June 19^th, I begin my next adventure and go “on safari” with Will Fox of On Track Safaris.  To date this has been a life-changing experience and Tara tells me that I have even been useful. 

I have learned to identify, measure and record leopard spoor and those of other carnivores and animals.  I have seen leopards, helped set up camera traps, change SD cards and sort photos.  I have worked on the fire separation, removed invasive species and taught a couple of classes of boys and girls at the Sizo elementary school.  I can build a fire and cook on it making local dishes like “potjie” or my family’s favourite prawn stir-fry and even baking brownies.  I can tell a buffalo thorn from an acacia; recognize a kudu bark from a baboon call; and the leopard chuff. Not bad for a city girl who has spent one night in a tent before arriving here. 

Highlights of my stay have been the leopard sightings of course but so was seeing the <week old baby giraffe with its mother in a mountain grove, courtesy of new arrival Dawn who spotted the pair first.  I have made some new friends in Tara, Toni, Dylan and Dawn – friendships forged over campfires, trail hikes and leopard watching.

This volunteer experience has taught me a great deal about myself and I am grateful to my husband, Steve for supporting me to do this and my sister-in-law, Suelina for encouraging me to sign up for Africa.  My next stops are:  Zueika County House, Shiduli Game Lodge, Kruger National Park, Umkumbe Safai Lodge and Black Leopard Camp where I will see the Big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard); yet something tells me that my 4 weeks as a Conservation Assistant will be unsurpassed.  Thank you to Black Leopard Camp, On Track Safaris, Tara Pirie and all the good folks who have created this opportunity.

Submitted by Shirley Chan, June 17, 2012

Dream come true

My Dream has Come True!

June 7, 2012

My dream of seeing leopards has come true!  For three days running from June 2nd to 4th, I have had the unparalleled experience of seeing Diamond Girl’s two leopard cubs playing, eating and even chasing game – or trying to, anyway.  The yet unnamed sister and brother can frequently be found in close proximity to one another. 

As Sister is bolder and more inquisitive, she was spotted first, by Dylan, as she was sitting up to see who was approaching with such a racket.  It was Tara, Dylan and me in Tallulah – the green vintage Land Cruiser.  Brother was close by and better concealed by the woodpile along the Big Dam.  We watched as they played in the gathering dusk and then began tracking a warthog.  We followed them as they went up the road, splitting up, reappearing and sauntering up the road.  Brother crossed the drainage line and rested in splendour while eyeing us before disappearing into the brush.  Once they decide to disappear, they blend so well into the grassy savannah that they cannot be seen and our search was futile.

The next day, while Tara and Dylan were on an errand to the Big Dam to refill the diesel generator which supplies our camp with water, they came  tearing back to fetch me as they spotted the cubs again.  This time it was Brother sunning himself by the water with sister was close by.  Lucky for me that they came back to get me so I could participate in the chase.  That evening we got lucky again as Sister was sitting under a tree by the dam to watch the impala.  She eventually gave chase when the impala ran past her hiding place.  She followed them up the dam run off and disappeared. 

The third day, Brother was sitting pretty under the same tree by the dam at dusk.  As we watched, he got up and sauntered off; disappearing into the savannah.  Tara drove in the direction that he was heading when we spotted Sister under a tree.  While we camped out in the truck to watch her movements, Brother arrived and pounced on her!  This is a game that they play.  Together they moved down the road, checking out the old kudu carcass and eventually ending up at the fresh impala kill stashed in the tree.  Sister curled up in some brush for a snooze while Brother climbed the tree for a meal. 

We had followed and ended up 10 meters from where Sister was snoozing.  The spotlight we used to see them did not faze them at all. 

Soon after Brother finished eating, he came down off the tree and was sniffing around when he heard a call, responded and ran off.  Sister who had been snoozing rose, answered and headed in the same direction.  Tara said that the alert response by both cubs meant Diamond Girl must have called them.  She must have deposited them by the dam while she went hunting. 

We continued to look for them and eventually spotted  the 3 leopards heading up the mountain.  We found them by the reflection of the spotlight off their eyes.

I CAN RECOGNIZE LEOPARD TRACKS!

I CAN RECOGNIZE LEOPARD TRACKS!

After a week of coaching from Tara as we jump in and out of our land cruiser changing camera cards and batteries, I was able to identify the spoor of a leopard while on a late afternoon walk just off Conservation Village Campus!  Accompanied by 19 year old S. African, Dylan, it was quite a thrill to find my first leopard track without Tara.  She confirmed it was a leopard the following morning. 

At 7 am this morning Tara lead us though the bush in back of the camp, down along the drainage ditch and up the hill on the other side.  We were travelling single file in hopes of spotting our favourite carnivore.  On reaching the road at the top we were heading back towards camp when I spotted a leopard spoor.  Sure enough, this was one of many and Tara is positive that the 3 different sizes of spoor mean 3 different leopards who had passed this way: a large male, a female and a cub.  We never did spot the trio but did find a dwarf mongoose recently killed and lots of tracks of jackal, serval and civet in addition to leopard.

Earlier this week, Tara encouraged me to find my first giraffe spoor which is distinctive by size and space between.  That felt like a real accomplishment to a lifelong city dweller like me.  While I have always dreamed of seeing these animals in the wild, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I might learn to track!

Part of the deal when you sign up as a volunteer for the Ingwe Leopard Research Program is that you must give back to the community.  On Wednesday, Dylan and I joined the crew that was working on the controlled burn to ensure the fire did not spread out of control.  We were issued fire beaters and used these to snuff out any wayward flames.  At the end of 5 hours, I had to stop from exhaustion.  I had had enough of eyes watering and of choking on smoke blown into my face.  Dylan and I reeked of smoke but felt a sense of satisfaction from a job well done.

Another skill learned while staying at camp is how to build a fire and cook on it.  I can report that I have successfully prepared chicken cacciatore, soup, stir fry prawns and scrambled eggs with spinach and Chakalaka (a spicy tomato salsa).  Watch for the recipe book that Tara plans to make available for all campfire cooks.

New funding sources are needed for to conserve this habitat as home for the many species that live here.  The lack of access to the internet makes it impossible to do on-line research on potential donors. After a life changing experience, I pledge to work on this on my return to Vancouver.  I miss my family too much to want to stay as one of the volunteers is hoping to do but I do want to help make a difference.  You can too by signing up as a volunteer, donating or simply clicking on the Google ads.

Shirley Chan, June 2, 2012 

Live Your Dream

Live Your Dream

Hi, my name is Shirley Chan.  I live in Vancouver, BC, Canada and have travelled  halfway around the globe to live my dream by joining Tara’s team at Conservation Village as a conservation assistant.  I am here to learn about the amazing animals in South Africa and am especially interested in getting to know more about the magnificent leopard who call this part of the world “home”. 

Since arriving on Wednesday May 23, I have seen herds of wildebeest, kudu, water buck, bush buck, nyala, impala, warthog and zebra.  A family of giraffe live here as do flocks of yellow-fronted canaries.  While sighting leopards remains something to look forward to, I have helped to sort photos of leopards and other animals and have helped photograph, measure and record spoor and scat.  There is so much for an urban mole like me to learn!  I have no transferable skills from my previous life as public servant or senior executive.

Tara is a knowledgeable, skilled and patient teacher/guide and Toni, who is studying to become a field guide, is welcoming.  I can’t be happier even though temperatures drop to a low of 7C from a high of  29C; a change of 22 degrees in one day!  We cook over an open fire in the main building which is rather challenging for someone like me who prefers room service to camping.  The meals so far have been delicious and I get to take a turn at preparing a modified chicken cacciatore tonight. 

Finally, I am proud that I can manage the demands of schedule (6:30 am starts) and some hiking even though I turn 65 this September.   If you want to help conserve the habitat and lives of this diversity of animals, I encourage you to come and you’re your dream as volunteer or just visit www.ingweleopard.com and click on the ads or just donate.

Submitted by Shirley Chan, May 26, 2012.