Rhinos!

The past couple of days have been pretty exciting around here after our slow days (although yesterday was quite depressing). Wednesday, after castrating a dog with an abnormally HUGE testicle (infection) we were called out for a sick sable, who turned out to be not so sick, but we were awarded with an awesome game drive on the most beautiful farm:

We were looking for the buffalo herd when we ran into some wildebeest. We saw large droppings thinking they were buffalo droppings but I asked Neil and he looks at me very seriously and says, "No. Those are rhino." And then we saw them: Two adults and two babies. Then we kind of chased them down the mountain in our bucky (South African word for truck). It was all very quick but I managed to get a couple of good shots. Here is is one:

Then we did run into the buffalo herd, which is a bit unsettling because they all turn and stare at you. As long as you don't make sudden movements they won't charge.

Yesterday, I went out with Angela to visit a sick cow that was about 3 months pregnant in the morning. When we got there she was laying on her side which is never a good sign. After examining her Angela decided that she must have been posioned by a plant she ate, so we poured a charcoal and water mixture into her stomach. We walked back to the bucky to get her a couple of injections, turned around and she was dead. I couldn't believe it. Angela later told me that she knew the cow was a goner upon arrival. So sad. The cow went for a post mortem and now they think it possibly had rabies. Thank goodness for that rabies vaccination before I left!

In the afternoon we went out to capture an impala buck who was being given to the farmer's sister. It was darted and everything was alright but then we couldn't get close enough to determine which impala had been darted -- after it ran away, of course. Unfortunately we weren't there quick enough and he died. Impala are often highly sensitive to tranquilizers, as are giraffe and rhino.

Stephen and Bizzie then started making fun of me because the cow I had gone to see died and then the impala died, while they had been with Neil darting an impala in the morning without issue. I was the omen of death.

The impala they darted yesterday was apparantly a "rogue" impala buck that had become a little too friendly with the tourists at a hotel. When they were trying to capture and dart it, a sable buck got out so we had to dart it this morning. While we were on the back of the bucky it started to wake up and freaked all of us out. Of course Neil was rather calm, stops the bucky, and gives the sable a little booster, but in the process Bizzie was hit by the antlers and Steven was scraped up on his legs. Somehow I managed to escape unscathed.

Just a few minutes ago, we darted one of Neil's impala to sell to the man whose died yesterday. It was quick and simple.

Later today is Neil's daughter's birthday party! She is turning three so that should be fun. And then I think we may go out dancing, well, waltzing, with Angela. They waltz to every type of music you could imagine (Abba, AC DC, Hannah Montana).....interesting. Tomorrow we are going to Mamatau to visit the white lion! Exciting! I send everyone my love!

Here is a last fun pick of Bizzie and I goofing around while waiting for Neil to dart the sable ( I kind of look like a man, but I think that may have been the point):

Oh! I have a cell phone as well. Call me if you like! The number is +27730310259.