Striped Velvet
I didn’t want to tell you, at first, about the little bundle of bones the local senior game warden placed in our care about two weeks ago.
He had received word from a (northern) Maasai that a zebra foal had followed his cows into his “manyatta” (a Maasai traditional homestead). The Maasai people are known for their benevolent ability to respect wildlife, sharing what little grazing there is for their live stock with zebras and other wild grazers and tolerating even the king of beasts, the lion on their turf.
The Maasai herdsman narrated the story, how only 2 days ago he had witnessed 2 lionesses making a kill of a zebra mare. Then, “the king” male lion who had been observing from a distance, claimed his right to feast first on the still warm and twitching Zebra, with the lionesses dutifully waiting their turn.
The whole commotion of the chase of course had totally unsettled his herd of cows who had fled in panic in every direction.
Unnoticed in the excitement, a zebra foal no more than two days old, had been swept up in the flight of the cows. Unable to locate her slain mother the confused little foal had followed the cows as they gathered for the trek home. Once united with their herdsman they entered the manyatta, a safe enclosure giving them protection from the predators at night. That’s when the odd one out was first noticed, now feeling quite safe amongst the warm assuring bodies of other larger animals even though they did not have stripes on their pelts. The Maasai herdsman just left the little one there and went to consult with the elders. When it was time to milk the cows, a little was spilled on a hollow stone for the foal who, following the lead of the calves, licked it up.
Left to chance, the foal might even have leaned to nurse from a cow if that had been permitted. But the council of elders decided it was better to send a message to the Government Game Warden than risk being accused of having killed the mother themselves.
Another day had passed before the familiar green land rover appeared and game scouts swiftly grabbed the foal and, holding it in their arms for the long journey back across the plains, finally delivered it to Fundi at our animal orphanage.
Domestic motherless foals are difficult to rear under any circumstances, let alone wild striped ones. Muraya, one of our animal attendants, offered to find donkey milk in the village, although I wondered what donkey would let you milk her! He of course returned empty handed (and bruised!!). Fundi agreed to “donate” his sleep for the first ten days to fed the little one on our special formula in a nursing bottle throughout the days and nights.
So far all the fuss and care has paid off: now, 2 weeks later, our foal has gained a little weight, getting stronger each day and with it boosts our hopes for its survival.
“Helping” of course is the never tiring “Chucky” the mini hog, and Bella the little buffalo, who, by example, has persuaded the foal to try some alfalfa leaves.
Each night these three unmatched creatures cuddle up together, having made their choice from all the other orphans around them.
Nature certainly has its ways to adapt and insure survival when the need is greatest.
Your help and support is indispensable for the continued success of the rehabilitation to the wild programs of the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy and animal orphanage.
“Striped Velvet” can be adopted, even named: click here for details:
Out & About : Meeting Don’s Baby Boomers
These are some of the latest youngsters born to the resident herd of Bongo bred at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.
Only separated by a few months in age, these young animals have formed a friendship that will last for life.
As seen here, only one “teenage” female is “in charge.” While the mothers browse in relative peace nearby, the young play and romp as they should. Only previously seen in eland and impala, it is amazing that bongo will adopt the same (sensible) system. Because of the impenetrable forest that wild bongo once populated on Mount Kenya, very little of their behaviour was known until they could be studied in their semi-wild environment of the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.
Bongo bred at the Conservancy are earmarked for future release on Mount Kenya their ancestral home. Watch this space for updates.
If you would like to become part of this exiting and unique conservation project with your donation, click here:
Help support the Wildlife Conservancy
For more details of the Bongo rehabilitation back to the wild program click here:
Chucky meets Ms. Piggy!
I don’t know if this means anything, but for us, April has been the “month of the pig.”
No sooner had young Chucky settled in, another came along.
This one is a 3 months old bush pig. The medium size one amongst the three wild pigs found in Kenya. The largest, of course you knew, is the elusive giant forest hog.
This little piggy was actually found by our equestrian amazon friend Rose Caldwell.
On one of her daily outings on the slopes of Mount Kenya her horse shied away from some crows busy picking at ’something’ in a ditch. Rose moved closer only to discover a tiny newborn and terrified piglet about to be assassinated by the crows sharp beaks.
She managed to scoop it up just in time and walked it back to the safety of their farm house. It would be unusual for crows to go after a bushpig even a small one but, trapped as it was in a ditch they saw their chance. No one knows what happened to “mom.” No doubt she was no longer around, because not only would she have managed the crows she would most certainly have had a go at Rose’s mare’s legs in defence of her young.
Rose reared the little pig on an infant bottle filled with milk, egg and sugar and the little bundle thrived, grew and soon made digging up the garden her favourite sport. So much that inevitably trouble brewed in the Caldwell household and to avoid total destruction not only to the beautiful garden but also their many years of happy marriage, the Caldwells decided it was time Piggy went somewhere she would meet creatures more her match and be prepared for a future in her ancestral wilderness home. That is how she came to us.
She is yet too young for return to the wild and must stay a few months longer before she begins her eventual journey back to the wild. Meanwhile she has exchanged digging for chasing the other orphans who jovially tolerate her antics. Our little Buffalo “Bella” is however specially taken with her and they are beginning to bond. One thing is for sure: Bella will always be bigger than the Ms. Piggy and that fact of life, she will probably continue to respect!
Ms. Piggy is looking for your sponsorship in fostering or adoption…
adoption.animalorphanagekenya.org
Lucky Chucky, or the Hog of the Blog?
It could have been any other day or point in time and this little piggy would have gone unnoticed only a few days into his life, the shadow of death already upon him.
Minute and vulnerable, he was forcefully separated from his mother and siblings.
The pair of mighty martial eagles that have been spotted now for a few days signal the onset of baby season for warthog families. The prolonged drought has forced many expectant hog families to leave their parched savannah homes for the still relatively healthy pastures of the mountain slopes. Here they compete with the rest of the game living under the protection of the MKWC and we wonder how long the food will last with the added burden.
As the martial eagles patiently wait in the trees, their powerful eyes focus on the warthog dens. A few days after giving birth the
sow gets ready to move her new litter to confuse nocturnal Jackals and foxes. She is not aware of the imminent danger from the sky. With his over 2 meters of wingspan the eagle descents silently casting a sudden shadow over this happy family outing. By the time the sow sounds the alarm and her piglets scatter, the powerful claws of the mighty bird have already grabbed one of their number and in one hasty swoop the bird and its prey are airborne - the spectacle of nature is over in seconds. This is how inexperienced mothers lose inexperienced piglets. When she stops to count noses one or more fugitives are already out of her earshot and unaware of her call. By night the jackal, the smaller cats, or the fox will find the easy meal.
Not this time, as one of our alert game scouts found the lone piglet squeaking for help he became its saviour and delivered it unharmed to Fundi at our animal Orphanage.
Our loyal friend and Conservancy supporter Chuck Simmons came through at once with a significant sponsorship for the comical piglet, hence named: “Chucky”
Chucky has already dutifully taken up his position as Orphanage clown endearing himself to all he meets. Not unlike most parents that see their own children as smarter and nicer, I must say, “I think this one is different, he really is smarter!!”
He not only follows Fundi all day, he also delights in greeting those of us he can already identify, such as my blue car for instance which sends him racing up to the gate to greet me.
I think we have a winner: “World’s smartest mini hog!!”
