So many first lines I could start with....

Last Wednesday I was given the following options:

1. Go on a mass game capture in a helicopter

2. Help release a wild leopard

So, I picked the leopard, but it occured to me, "Who gets these options?" In the end I didn't even have to worry about making the right choice -- when I returned to my flat after the leopard release, Neil called me and told me I could go on mass game capture the very next day! I am so blessed to be here and pinch myself everyday, wondering if I really am going to wake up.

The wild leopard release was defintely one of the coolest activities thus far (but then everything the past week has seemed like that). The leopard, who had been caught on a farm by a game farmer, was being released in a reserve (with a 5 star lodge and lots of tourists....really a good idea?) with a new radio collar. We arrived at the reserve at 3, but ended up waiting for two hours for the owner to show up, which was extremely frsutrating because it gets dark at 6 and there was a storm threatening. When he finally did get there it started storming right over our heads. Angela injected him with a tranquilizer through the cage (so brave, he was feroucious and they are lightening fast). I helped her collected blood samples while Steven helped Luke (the cheetah guy, more about him another day) measure the leopard. I think our favorite part of the day was weighing him. Angela was standing on this really-for-a-bathroom scale and asked for some one to hand her the leopard. Here Steven and I were, amidst professional game rangers, just looking at each other because no one was moving. So we said, ok, we'll do it, and picked it up. Maybe not exciting for some, but I was pretty thrilled that I was lifting a wild leopard in the middle of a thunderstorm. We ended up having to leave the leopard under a blanket because it was so cold. The game reserve manager left a dead warthog for when it woke up, but as Angela said, who comes out of anesthesia craving pork? Leopard with his duvet:

The next day was my first helicopter ride! I went with Herard to capture kudo and waterbuck and met the nicest people, who fed me delicious meet and invited me to come visit their own farms. SA people are really nice. Herard uses the helicopter to scare the antelope into a fenced off area and eventually into a truck. Once there, I ran around with Ted making sure the antelope went in the truck and stood for a while on top watching the guys get them into their compartments. Lots of fun.

Later that day I helped Angela stitch up a horse! The horse had a huge gash in it's leg from who knows where. I used the forceps and heled the intital suture in place while she would make the second one. Again, one of the most amazing activities.

The next day I scrubbed in as the vet nurse during a dog castration (the actaul vet nurse, Filimon, was out sick). Again, too cool. I blotted up blood, held the testicles in my hands...lots of fun. Here is a pic, oh and if you are wondering, yes, no gloves. Too expensive for a small clinic in SA. But don't worry Mommy, I am washing my hands all of the time!

Saturday, after watching Neil's neice dance at the church bazaar we went out for a sable dystocia, which turned into a c-section in the middle of the bush. Neil is incredible at what he does. This particular sable cow took two darts before she actaully went down -- I think she knew she had a calf to protect. He quickly opened her up and he, Steven and the farmer pullled out the calf, who was fortunately still alive. After pulling her out, Neil says to me, hold this, and hands me the uterus. I literally held the uterus in my hands while he attended to the calf and while he sewed it up. If only I had gotten a picture. Unfortunately, I don't often get pictures of the cool things I do. But when you are holding an antelope uterus in your hands, how do you get a picture??? Here is one of me with the calf afterwards:

Tomorrow is my birthday! Neil's sister-in-law, Geraldine is making me a cake -- she is a professional cake maker! Stephen leaves Wednesday and some new girls are coming....sad. People are here for just a few weeks, I make friends and then they leave (Bizzie come back!). I hope everyone is well! Send me an e-mail, I would love to hear from you!