DewaldtNatureConservation

Game Capture

2010-08-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

On the 26th of july we started setting up the boma for the captureing of the animals it took us a while to get everything ready but on the first day we caught a couple of kudu's it was passive capture that we did it was very interresting.
But you have to be patient and you must stand still and wait for the alarm to go of then you must run with the curtin and if the kudu's come towards you to try and excape you have to shout at them an chase them in to the front.

It was very good experience because as you stand an wait they walk right past you and they dont even notice you we caught a few kudu's and then we had to move to another sight because they wanted to catch eland,blesbuck,bleuwildebeest and more kudu's so we went to the other sight and set everything up again then Julian flew with his tchopper to go and locate the animals and we started to catch kudu's and eland and allso some bleuwildebeests after a short while the truck was full.

Then they had to take the animals to thier farm where they keep them I drove with the driver to their farm to go and drop the animals off,it was very interresting to see how they get the animals into their cages and to see how big the cages are.
That place is in top condition they did a proper job on building that bomas for the animals I allso saw some Gemsbuck there and some rhino's but the rhino's wasn't in the cages they where free outside and it was their rhino's.
It was fun catching game whith Julian and his team because they know what they are doing and they get the job done.

When we got back it wasn't long till we caught a herd of blesbuck about thirty of them that was very nice I enjoyed it very much and I have learned allot about game captureing.

Bysicle Trails

2010-08-04T02:56:00.000-07:00

We where given a project to go and cut bysicle trails for a weekend where geusts brought there bysicles to ride the trails.
It was very hard work we used rakes,axses,brushcutters and punga's and the treckter to cut a new trail trough the bushes after we cuted all the bushes out we had to clean the area with rakes an punga's.

The trails where very long and there was lots of trails to be raked and cleared out we litrely where in the bush every day the whole day and the trails wasn't short at all we worked realy hard on that trails and we finished in time.
We marshalled the saterday for the drivers the first race was 2km for the children then they had another trail but for smaller children it was 500m then they kicked off with the 20km and 40km trails then we had to go stand on our positions to marshall the geusts took long to finish the trail.
We stood on our positions for very long and aventualy they finished then they had price giving.

The trails we did was good experience and I enjoy it in the bush I have learned allot about potensial hazzords like branches hanging over the road and thorns in the road and we had to clean every corner, we had to make the corners hard so that the riders could take the corners with speed and not fall because of the sand on the corners.

The trails was a great success and we had to work fast because the weekend came closer and closer but we finished in time and the trails was ready for the geusts.
I learned allot.

Game Captureing

2010-05-05T23:49:00.000-07:00

On the 5th of May we went to Rust de winter we went to catch Rhinos because they where getting pouched so the farmer sold them. We caught four rhinos one of them was a baby.
The first rhino was the toughest to catch because Alex the vet darted the first rhino twice because they thought the first tranquilizer did not penetrate we where driving on the truck and ran to the rhino when he fell.

The first thing we did wen we got at him was to blindfold him and put two ropes on him one rope to brake him and the other one to guide him and we poor some water on him to keep him cool we where busy for a long time pumping his legs to get the blood flowing and to try to work out some of the dosage we eventually got him up and into the trailer Alex then gave the rhino another injection when he was in the trailer.

Diebrief and report writing

2010-04-15T02:40:00.000-07:00

DIEBRIEF AND REPORT WRITING.

1) Theoretical Training.

A) Strong points: Mammals and that we learned so much about the bush and the animals, I learned things that I have never known before.

B) Challenges: To remember everything and birds is one of my challenges.

C) What did u learn: I learned allot about insects and why they are built the way they are. And learned allot about the bush and the animals.

D) How can we make it better: They must cut the gap year the gap year must be much shorter it was a waste of time in that time we could have started with our course.

2) Roster.

A) Strong points: We did not rely had a input in the roster we just went where we were supposed to be.

B) Challenges: To be early.

C) What did u learn: To do proper planning so that everyone knows where they must be.

D) How can we make it better?: It was fine I had no problems.

3) Welcoming.

A) Strong points: It was the same as always long.

B) Challenges: I need to speak more to the guests because I am still shy.

C) What did u learn: To be polite and you must smile all the time.

D) How can we make it better: Thiers nothing you can do except wait.

4) Conservation

A) Strong points: Was when we went with Marno to close the roads and dig water holes for the water on the road to flow into the bush and we closed some holes in the roads.

B) Challenges: There is actually none everything was alright.

C) What did u learn: Learned how to keep the farm itself in good condition and learn how to brush cut properly?

D) How can we make it better: NO comment.

5) Wildlife Centre.

A) Strong points: Feeding the animals and to look after them.

B) Challenges: Cleaning out the cages.

C) What have u learn: I have learned to keep the cages clean and fresh for the animals and that you must give them their food on time.

D) How can we make it better: NO comment?

6) Guiding.

A) Strong points: Was talking about the trees and mammals.

B) Challenges: Talking the whole tour through and being comfortable with the people.

C) What have u learn: I have learned allot from Mabula things I did not know and that you must be patient with the guests.

D) How can we make it better? No comment.

7) Student on duty.

A) Strong points: I was helping everywhere did mostly tracker game drives and some blogs.

B) Challenges: Got a bit irritated with all the work.

C) What u have learnt: I learned that you must think fast on your feet and be ready for anything.

D) How can we make it better? No comment.

8) After hours activities.

A) Strong points: We did bring and braai it was the braaing of the meat.

B) Challenges: Talking to guests.

C) What u has learnt: To be patient.

D) How can we make it better: No comment?

9) Academy duty.

A) Strong points: Doing some blogging and catch up on some work.

B) Challenges: Got irritated

C) What have u learned: To type faster and concentrate more.

D) How can we make it better: No comment?

10) Social.

A) Strong points: just chilling.

B) Challenges: nothing.

C) What have u learned: To chill.

D) How can we make it better: no comment.

Meet The Managers

2010-04-06T07:11:00.000-07:00

We got this task weeks before it happened and there was al lot of planning involved we tried the best we could at least it was a success we had a slide show and the hotel and lodge people did the food and the managers enjoyed it al lot.

We did a dance for the managers with a song and they enjoyed it very much,the food was very good and the hole setup was neat and smart this task took al lot of planning and stress.

But at least it was a success and every one enjoyed it.

Tambuki

2010-03-28T23:28:00.000-07:00

On the 23de of March we started walking to Tumbuki we left from the boys house,we where assessed on the way there it was very interesting because we where out in the bush.
It was a long walk and it was very hot but still fun on the way there our group got a dead pofadder in the road it was a Jung one.

Our group was the last group to reach Tambuki when we got there we ate lunch an then we went to do some bush waking we saw al lot of brown hiena spoors,after that we got back and sat around the camp fire and we braid some worse every one was tired and went to bed early.

The next morning we wokup early and we started to walk we finished all the assessements and learned lots of intterresting stuff we went to the rocks where the ancient people lived and sharpened thier knifes. That was very interressting!

Then we walked back to camp an the hotel and lodge students were already there bussy making our food.The food was very nice after that we all chilled around the camp fire and tried to scare the people of the sangoma then we all went to sleep.

The last morning we got a huge pofader then we ate breakfast and we started to walk back it was a very hot long walk but very interressting aswell wen we got home we did the diebrief and we talked about what we could have done beter.

Cross Marketing

2010-03-15T00:08:00.000-07:00

Cross marketing was interesting because they teached us how to market the stuff on the farm with out them even noticing anything we where busy for a few hours they showed us how to do it and when to do it it was interesting to see how people do it and some of them do it for a living every day i will not say i am good at it but i will get better in time i hope.

I never knew people could sell stuff like that it is very good marketing for the business its funny how people work some times it works sometimes it dont you must first read the peole before you try to sell anything to them you must know what they will like for example

Fire Fighting

2010-03-02T22:45:00.000-08:00

On the 2nd of March we did fire fighting. We learned all about how it works and what you have to do when there is a fire. We also learned how to fight a fire I was handling the fire hose. We did a fire drill we had to run into the store and get the masks and overalls and helmets then we had to put them on as fast as we can.

Then we jumped on the tracker and we did the drill it was very exciting because you have to think and act fast we learned how to approach a fire you must fight it from the back where it already burned the grass and you must have your equipment on other wise you are going to get hurt and maby suffocate.

I have learned how to start the engine for the hosepipes and there must be 2 people on a hosepipe the one needs to spray and the other one needs to make sure the pipe is straight and controllable.
I have always wondered how farmers fight veld fires and now i know how they operate wen a veld fire breaks lose.
Everything is happening so fast you need to concentrate and be aware of your surroundings but it was very interesting and i have learned allot about fire fighting.

First aid level 1

2010-02-24T22:05:00.000-08:00

On the 24th of February we started with our first aid level 1 course it was a 2 day course.

It was very interesting to learn how to help other people,we did CPR on the test dummies the first day we just did theory it was allot of work and very interesting the second day we also did theory and after that we wrote a test but the test wasn't that difficult there where 2 questions the first question was we needed to explain the steps that you will follow when encountering a injured person the steps are H,H,H,A,B,C,B that stands for Hazards, halo, help, airway, breathing, circulation, and stop severe bleeding.

And the second question we needed to explain how the heart works and after that we did our practical examination some of the students where patients and some of them where the first aiders and we had to treat them and after that we did CPR on the dummies the we where finished we all past it was a very interesting course i have learned allot how things work in the ambulance industry.

I am glad that i did the course.Because i never knew how CPR was really done and i learned something new and now i know how the hart works it was very interesting.

Communication

2010-02-16T22:14:00.000-08:00

Communication is being drilled into our heads everything is about communicating there are a few steps considering communication.

Talk.

You must talk to people to know what is going on and to sort out problems.

Listen.

You have to listen to people to know what you must do and to help them solving their problem.

The world cant function without communication I am a quiet person i don't like communicating but sometimes you don't have a choice in order to let things flow.

Respect

You must have respect for the other person to talk other wise there is going to be an argument and that can lead to a fist fight and that some times solves a problem but not always.

We played allot of games that help's you with communication and that force you to communicate with others

Debate of the Quelea's

2010-02-10T21:58:00.000-08:00

We where briefed on the whole situation and what is going to happen and why it is need to be done and when it is going to be done.
We prepared the whole structure very carefully and we marked the area with fa cols so the airplane can see where he must spray and we made loud noises so that the non targeted animals can get out of the area.

We conducted it and it was very successful very few non targeted animals where injured and the extermination of the Quelea's was a success.
We gave feedback through a debate about the situation and what you think of it and what your emotions is about the whole killing of the Quelea's.

We did the diebriefing over the whole situation and how it all played off.

Positive.

The positive side is that the farmers crops where saved and a couple of peoples lives where saved.

Negative.

There where non targeted animals that died an it doesn't feel right to kill 2million birds in about three hours.

Tour to Bela Bela 3 February

2010-02-03T01:25:00.000-08:00

This morning Cobus told us how to organise a tour.
First you must check if you got transport then you have to check the oil and water and
see if the wheels are fine.
Check the petrol and see if the air con works tell the tourists that they must make turns by who
is sitting at the window make sure the microphone works.
Give them a quick briefing of were they are going and tell them they must take money or they need to take water ask who is smokers so that you can stop for smoke breaks.
Tell the people what time are you going to be were keep talking to the tourists stop for small
breaks.

Information centre

We arrived at 9:05 they provided us with all the information we needed.
They were very friendly and help full and they gave us pamphlets of places
near bela bela we left at 9:36.

Sondela office

We arrived there at 9:41 the offices is on the 2nd floor then we left at 9:45.

Grave yard

We arrived at 9:45 Christine pretorius is burried there her husband was Andries pretorius
his wife got sick and she stayed there because the thought the warm water will make her better.
She died there she was born in 1800 and died in 1848 its not like other grave yards
this one is open.
We left at 9:50.

African Market

We arrived there at 10:05 the people where very nice an they have allot of wooden carved
animals and allot of bracelets some of them come from Kenya and some of them from Zimbabwe
we left there at 10:20.

Block House

This house was build by the English in the boere oorlog they build it to protect the railway
it has 3 layers an there were bullet marks on the outside it is well build with thick steel plates
that covered the windows.
The house have a balcony and the door is made of steel.

Silo's

We arrived at 10:42 and left at 10:48.
There is 7 big silo's and 4 small ones it is 45m long and can take 36tuns of grane or mielies the company that
runs that is called NTK that is Noord Transvaal Korporasie after that we went trough the township.

Township

There is a shebeen its called B.B.K and on Sundays they play jazz and drink beer there is a high school Bela Bela high an they live very close to each other they are very social people.
We arrived there at 10:51 and left at 11:00.

My comments

It was very interesting and nice to see whats going on in the town.
The Block house was the most interesting.

Pest Control:Quelea's

2010-02-02T22:35:00.000-08:00

The Quelea's was becoming a bit of a problem.
The objective was to eliminate the birds because farmers next to sondela would have loosed allot of money and crops.

Why we needed to do it?

Because they where nesting and it was only a matter of time before they would have left and eat all the farmers crops.

What we needed to do.

The farmers followed the birds and saw they lived here on Sondela.
So the farmers made an arrangement with Sondela to spray the birds then they planned the whole operation first they contact the guys that do the spraying.
Then they made an arrangement with the farmers to bring workers to help
then every 10m they put a fa col with diesel in it surrounding the area where the quelea's where nesting then we walked into the area and we made some noise to chase away other birds that were non target animals then they lit ed up the fa Col's then we waited for the airplane to come and spray the birds he did 2 rounds then after that we went back home.

The following morning we wake up early to go and pick up the dead birds before any non target animals got there, there was two owls the one was dead and the other one was injured and there where one snake that is at the wildlife centre.

The whole operation was a success only three non targeted animals where injured it was a very interesting operation I learned allot about the birds and there habitat and why they where a problem I was sad but it was for a good cause

When this happened.

It was on the first of February 2010.It was D-Day for the Quelea's.