Klaserie Chronicle Klaserie Kroniek In-flight magazines latch onto our good news story
No: 08; March 2008
Programmes such as the Children’s Eco Training [CET] project thrive on goodwill and publicity garnered in the right quarters. What better way to go than to capture the audience of those who fly to reach destinations to do business or relax in leisure? It is decision-makers and people who count that fly South African Express to Southern Africa destinations and it is they who reach forward and lean back with Indwe, the South African Express in-flight magazine in hand. The January edition of the magazine covered the CET comprehensively in a three-page article written by contributor, Lindi van Rooyen and backed by photographs provided by Mark Wilkes and Zani Kunz. The article was entitled “A Worthy Education” and worthy coverage it certainly was, dwelling extensively on the CET’s reason for being. Noted here are the programme founder’s words on the mission of this programme, “... Sandy Wilkes believes that education is the key to survival of Africa,” says the article and goes on to quote Sandy ... “Our aim is for the children to leave the training session with a sense of pride in what they have achieved and a sense of responsibility for their surroundings. They understand the importance of working together and individually to sustain and conserve our precious environment.” • Late-breaking exciting news is that this article is to be repeated in the April edition of 1Time Airline’s inflight publication, abouTime. 1Time carries 140 000 passengers a month between South Africa’s major centres, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, George, East London and Durban.
Eco-logo caps now available Look what we have on sale now, caps to keep the sun at bay with the CET logo proudly displayed. In photo on the left, from the left, Kgaola Shai (CET Training Assistant), Gustav Roux holding the ladies’ cap (Conservation Officer) and Quentin Hagens (Ground Hornbill Research). Caps are sold at Motlasedi: Men’s cap R60 and the ladies’ cap R55.
“In the end, we conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand. We understand only what we have been taught.” Babr Dioum Dioum, Senegalese poet.
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Readers’ Forum - Briewebus
Die redakteur van die Klaserie Kroniek doen ’n beroep op alle lesers vir paslike items wat op hierdie bladsy gepubliseer kan word. Dankie, Redakteur
‘Jaar vol verwagting en uitdagings wag,’ Zani Goeie dag, ‘n Nuwe jaar vol verwagting en nuwe uitdagings het aangebreek. Dis asof elke jaar net vinniger verby snel en mens nie meer tyd het om te spandeer aan die klein dingetjies rondom ons nie. My wens vir die jaar is dat ons ons sintuie sal gebruik en die lewe ten volle ervaar soos dit vir ons gegee is. Die Kroniek is gevul met interessante stories en baie nuusgebeure uit die Reservaat. Graag versoek ek elke-een om jou snaakse, interessante en vreemde stories met ons te deel. Hierdie stories bring weer soete herinneringe van vervloë dae in die Klaserie. Children’s Eco Training has grown wings and is flying into all new and exciting directions. The interest and support expressed by organisations and individuals have been superb. The main projects we are embarking on are designing our CET website, school visits and other exciting joint projects with Kruger 2 Canyon Biosphere, MAD,Chili Pepper IT Solutions (Pty Ltd just to mention a few. We are moving into our next phases and will keep you updated on these developments. Groete, Zani.
Wilderness Vision lives its mission Alan and Sarah McSmith - on behalf of all at Sihlekisi Primary School - write: Thank you very much for your wonderful donation [of R1 000] to Wilderness Vision. [We] just wanted to let you know it has been very well spent, thank you. On Saturday (March 8) we painted the grade 1 classroom, Tami and Paul De Vos donated the paint and seven students volunteered to help us. It was a great day and the class looked brilliant. On Monday (March 10) we handed out bags and uniforms to 30 children. Your donation has helped change 30 little lives and you should have seen the faces, these were the identified orphans and vulnerable kids. They all received bags and then each child received the items that he/she most needed. We have attached some pictures, one of them is a close up of a little boy, Wisani [see photo right], he is such a wonderful, sunny little character and was so thrilled with his shoes, bag and brand new crisp pants and shirts he did not know where to put himself. We hope this finds you all well and forging successfully ahead with your incredible work. Thank you again, Sarah and Alan and all at Sihlekisi Primary School. P.S. The children have no desks only benches so we painted them red and blue.
News on joining the FGASA Brian Serrao, Operations Director, Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) [Telephone: 011-886 8245; Cellular: 083 286 5435] writes in response to a call for information on courses. What one needs to do is to join FGASA as a member, and the cost for this is R485.00. Once we know how many trainers are interested I will try and help with the learning material for them. Those who can read and write will then write a theory exam and if they pass they can be practically assessed. I will also assist with the assessments to bring down the costs. The assessments normally cost between R650 and R850 per person but I will do them at zero expense. All one needs to pay is the moderation fee at R150 per person.
Normally costs of the course are computed as follows: Registration fee R185.00 (once off fee); Membership fee R300.00 (per annum); Theory exam R170.00; Level 1 training manual plus support pack R185.00; Total (per person) R840.00 Those who cannot read and write I can also assist by doing a local guide qualification with them.All this entails is a practical assessment. Once a participant achieves any one of the above qualifications they then get their national certificates which means they are legal guides and register with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. I will definitely try and assist wherever I can to make it cost effective. [I will be following this offer of Brian’s up with an e.mail to members. Zani ED.]
“A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it’s least fortunate amongst them.”
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December 2007 trip to Kruger Park Twenty-five excited souls left for the Annual Winners’ Excursion to the Kruger National Park and were again privileged to spend two nights at the beautiful Mopani Rest Camp on 9, 10 and 11 December 2007. Names of winners and relevant information in this order, name, age, camp of origin: Sizekile Mnisi (6),winner of a bicycle, KPNR HQ; Michelle Mathebula (7), winner of a stationery hamper, Katzenellenbogen. Winners of trip to Kruger: Ntsako Manyika (8), KPNR HQ; Jane Mnisi (9), KPNR HQ; Ntwanano Mathumbu (9), Senalala; Tsakani Mathebula (10), Camp Mkombe; Clarence Mathonsi (11), Nel; Clement Moropane (11), Dover; Valentine Ngomane (12), Goss; Mooi Mtungwa (13) KPNR HQ; Tintswalo Manyika (14), KPNR HQ; Mosa Maswanganyi (15),
Ntoma; Nkululeko Mathebula (15), Hartman; Matimba Moropane (16), Dover; Rhulani Mathonsi (16), Wood. The group was treated to a special sunset game drive sponsored by Mopani Rest Camp. Vehicles were rented from Auto Doctor Hoedspruit at a very special rate and they also supplied a driver, Jerry. Le Bamba and Spar were also very kind to supply us with the needed and very welcome groceries at a reduced cost. Thank-you! Thank-you to Kruger National Park especially: Dr Bandile Mkhize, the Kruger National Park’s (KNP) Executive Director; Ben van Eeden, Regional Manager of Nxanatseni Region; Kgomotso Mojela, Executive Secretary of Nxanatseni Region; Christa von Elling, Duty Manager Mopani Rest Camp; Garth Holt, Hospitality Manager Mopani Rest Camp for their generous donation and friendly assistance.
Kloksgewys van foto bo: 1. Tintswalo, Jane, Mooi, Nkululeko en Ntsako maak padkos vir die volgende dag se uitstappie na Letaba Olifant Museum. 2. Die besoek aan die Masorini Historiese Nedersetting was ’n leersame ervaring. 3. Sizekile Mnisi spog met haar fiets, agter haar is Valentine, Jane en Mooi. 4. Michelle Mathebula, wenner van die skryfbehoefte verassingspak.
“Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” Desmond Tutu
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Between Piet, M99 and Buffalo Bull This story relates to an event that occurred during the live capture of 150 buffalo in 1998. We had set up a large mass capture boma in the south-west of the Reserve and had already captured a number of buffalo during the preceding days. It was mid-morning and the helicopter had just driven a small herd of buffalo into the capture kraal, through it and into the loading ramp section at the narrow end of the kraal. The animals where loaded onto the truck and when the dust had settled a stubborn old bull was noticed hiding in a small thicket in the first compartment in the kraal. All efforts to entice him forward, towards the truck had failed. A member of the capture team named Piet suggested that the bull be darted with a low dose of M99 to pacify him sufficiently so as not to resist our efforts.
The dart was set to the maximum A dart was prepared and Piet loaded and pressurized the Dan-inject darting pistol. Because the buffalo would be darted at the dart gun’s maximum range the air pressure that would propel the dart was set to the maximum. Peering through a small hole in the tarp(aulin) the buffalo was seen close to the opposite side of the kraal. Piet moved around to the other side in order to be close enough but the buffalo detected his presence and moved away, this game of cat-and-mouse went on for some time until eventually Piet decided to climb under the tarp and sneak towards a thicket in the centre of the kraal from where he would hopefully get a shot at the wily animal. Piet was about half way to the thicket when the bull broke cover from the opposite side of the kraal and charged. Piet ran towards the thicket and a large tree which he had earlier identified. As the bull was about to lower its head and toss him he leapt up and with one arm pulled himself into the branches, clear of the charging buffalo. The buffalo passed beneath him and he fired the dart at point blank range into its back striking the buffalo at maximum velocity and at close range. The dart ricocheted back out and as it passed Piet in the safety of the tree it expelled its deadly contents of M99 into his face and eyes.
The mighty beast picked him up ... Feeling the cool spray on his skin and the burning sensation in his eyes and with the knowledge that the M99 could kill him Piet leapt from the tree and ran shouting that he had got M99 in his eyes. Half way back to the safety of the side of the kraal the buffalo bull was upon him. The mighty beast picked him up on its horns and tossed him into the air but in the process the bull’s horn hooked into his trouser belt preventing him from falling to the ground. The enraged bull
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charged around inside the boma with Piet hanging over its face, through thorn bushes and over rocks, we stared in disbelief not knowing what to do. Just when I thought I’d have to shoot the buffalo in order to save Piet, his belt broke and he fell to the ground between thundering hooves and managed to roll out under the tarp. He emerged from the dust and ran towards us, badly battered, bruised and bleeding, his clothes shredded. We sat him down in the shade and administered an intravenous injection of the hu- by Colin Rowles man antidote for M99 called Narcan. As I monitored his recovery, he sat with his arms on his knees and scratched with his fingers in his hair, he asked me what it was that he could feel on his head, I took a closer look and was amazed to see a piece of white quartz rock sticking through his hair. There was also a huge white thorn protruded from his arm. Upon noticing this Piet pulled it out but it bled instantly. He quickly pushed it back in to stop the bleeding. I was amazed at this but soon realized that having just survived the toxic effects of M99 and a ferocious buffalo attack Piet was probably filled with adrenalin and that a stone in his head and a thorn in his arm would do him no harm. I also soon realized it is not only cats that have nine lives.
Training dates for 2008 For the record I must just let you know of the training dates for 2008: Trainers 1, 2, 3 April Children 7 - 10 April Trainers 17, 18, 19 June Children 23 – 26 June Trainers 22, 23 September Children 29 Sept – 2 Oct
Trainers 1, 2, 3 December Children 8 – 11 December
“... I am the chief of the nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love.” Red Cloud - Sioux Chief 1800's.
Search is on for a policeman, a One Pip Policeman aka Coeliades anchises Last November I had the pleasure of a week’s stay in Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, looking for butterflies. Stephen Beal kindly put me up at Senalala and James Steyn was my companion for the week. I also spent some time with Zani Kunz and her ranger trainees, and had an enjoyable day showing them a variety of butterfly species.
for SABCA - SA Butterfly Conservation Assessment. This is a four-year collaboration between the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa, SANBI and the ADU. The aim is to atlas our butterfly species. You can find out more about it at http://sabca.adu.org.za. We are appealing for help from the public because there are so few lepidopterists in South Africa, which is a big place! Help please! It was a pleasure walking around a pristine wilderness area, in good condition after The website has a virtual museum good rains. Early morning starts were where you can post your butterfly needed, because photography was my main sightings and have them identified for you. Simply take a digital photo of the aim and for this it helps to get up whilst the butterflies are still cold and inactive. butterfly (a basic camera is fine) and Not a One Pip Policeman but a We walked slowly through the dewy bush, Kedestes callicles [Hesperiidae] rest- reduce it to 72dpi and 100 x 75mm. stopping often to get a picture of a butterfly ing on a leaf in the Soutpansberg - Attach it to an e-mail containing the resting or sunning itself, and take a GPS Photo by M. Kemal. The search for the following data - see the example: One Pip continues unabated. reading. [begin][SABCA] Later, we examined flowering plants. But[observer name] Steyn J. terflies use a lot of energy, and most feed on flower nectar, a [coordinates latitude] 24 09 29.2 S good high energy food. [coordinates longitude] 31 16 23.8 E At midday, we visited hills. In the bushveld, most species are [locality] Senalala Lodge, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve dispersed widely at low density. They need a mechanism to meet [closest town] Hoedspruit and find mates. Some patrol endlessly through the bush. Many [province] Mpumalanga find a tall tree or hill, and males form territories there. They perch [country] South Africa on a prominent twig or leaf, chasing off all intruders whilst [year] 2007[month] 11[day] 21 watching for females. These fly to the territories at certain times [number of photos] 2 of day and are mated, after which they disperse to lay eggs on [notes] common species[end] the foodplants. Then send the e-mail to sabca@adu.org.za. We found many butterflies on hilltops, including the butterfly Send many! By doing this you can help one of today’s of the safari, the One-pip Policeman Coeliades anchises. Com- most important conservation efforts. Butterflies are under mon further north, it’s an uncommon butterfly in SA and for me, threat everywhere from development, agriculture, mining a rare lifer. We even found its foodplant, the Blue Shield-fruit and pollution. We need the atlas to be able to set conservation Triaspis glaucophylla, but unfortunately no larvae were on it. priorities. Why were we taking GPS readings? We were collecting data Please help!
by Steve Woodhall
Photos above left and right:Steve Woodhall, one pip policeman caught on the koppie on Camp
world-renowned butterfly expert and respected au- George. Photo above right: Elias and Sipho thor and photographer of showing the trainers the mounting the butterflies they have caught. “I dream of the realization of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent. I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses.” Nelson Mandela.
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Skoenlappers, kleurvol en kunstig
Klein en groot het aan die identifiserings aktiwiteite deelgeneem
Colin Mhlongo help vir Jane om die skoenlapper wat sy gevang het te identifiseer
Hardloop Boetie anders sal hy wegkom!
Mooi Mtugwa spog met haar kunsprojek, ’n Sterk klem is gelê op fyn waarneming. skoenlapper geskep uit verfspatsels met die spieëltegniek. Elke kind moes die skoenlapper teken wat hy/sy gevang het. 6
“... Although my words may be the bleatings of an old goat lost upon the rocky mountainside, let God and the gods hear me as I plead once more: Let not my Country die!” Credo Mutwa.
Kreatiwiteit hierdeur versterk
Arnold Moropane verduidelik aan sy groep die anatomie van ’n skoenlapper.
Een honderd persent bywoning! Hierdie is ’n groepie van die sowat 120 kinders wat die 100 persent bywoningsertifikaat ontvang het. Foto links: Deur kunsaktiwiteite word die kinders se kreatiwiteit, aandag aan detail en individualiteit versterk “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela.
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AIDS Awareness Day 14th December 2007 On the 14th of December an HIV AIDS awareness day was held in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve at Charloscar camp, for all the camp guards and KPNR staff. More than one hundred staff attended the day. Lunghi Mathebula, a KPNR staff member who represents the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve as a Nomphilo for Hlokomela Care Centre was asked to arrange the Awareness day. Lunghi was tasked with the job of making suggestions and recruiting people for the various activities. On the HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Lunghi was in charge of welcoming the staff and for the running of the various activities. This was all done with success, lunch before the staff headed back to their various camps. well done Lunghi. The day’s activities kicked off with an opening prayer and COMMENTS FROM STAFF singing. Mandla Mathonsi then welcomed everyone on behalf Betuel said that he participated as a dancer at the Awareness Day and was happy because everyone enjoyed his dancing, Betuel would like to dance at the Klaserie AGM. Sizzy said she would like to do the traditional dancing at the Awareness Day again and found the information about the new female condoms very interesting. Ruben said that he enjoyed the Awareness Day and had learned that it is important for partners to receive counselling and testing at the start of their relationship. David enjoyed watching the traditional dancing and lessons given. Our thanks and appreciation once again goes to Mike Myers and partners for the use of their Charloscar Camp, which was used as a venue for the Awareness Day.
of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. The day continued with a drama conducted by Hlokomela staff. Followed by a ladies traditional dancing team made up of Klaserie and camp guard staff, who were dressed in beautifully colourful traditional outfits. Following this the men began their traditional dancing. They included their young sons in their team. Dressed up in their traditional skins, they danced, competing against one another as a drummer drummed out a beat for them. Eventually an enthusiastic senior camp guard could not resist and joined in! There was a considerable amount of practising that went into these performances and the drums could be heard every weekend, and during the school holidays they could be heard practising every evening. The large crowd was then divided into smaller groups of men, ladies and children as discussion centering around HIV/AIDS issues took place. Christine Du Preez and staff were there to conduct voluntary HIV/AIDS testing. The day was then concluded with a delicious
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Story and photographs by Janice Rowles
... A few had the nerve to approach. “Zackie, thank you for all you’ve done,” one woman said. “Please keep fighting.” Zackie Achmat, world-renowned AIDS activist, pumped his fist and nodded. “We will,” he said. “And we WILL win!”
All colour is in the eye of the beholder The accompanying article in the Klaserie Chronicle on our beautiful butterflies brings to mind the question of colours and which of the creatures of the bush can actually see which colours? It has always been a challenge to me to truly appreciate that animals do not see the surrounding environment in the same way we fortunate humans do. We know that certain insects display warning colours to caution off potential predators. Harmless butterflies often mimic the colouration of poisonous ones to scare off predators. It follows then, that these predators can at least see these warning colours; a phenomenon known as aposematic colouration. Bees are able to detect colours, but apparently only ultraviolet, blue and yellow. Flowers that use birds and insects for pollination display more colour than a flower relying on wind pollination. It is interesting to note that most of the simplest flowers are yellow. Birds are said to be able to distinguish from five to seven colours. Given the many colours of some
by Judy Meeser birds like the Lilac Breasted Rollers, this is plausible. Animals (including us) have two different types of cells (photoreceptors) in the retina that capture and interpret light. The first, the RODS are used to see in dim light. The other photoreceptors are the CONES and these cells allow us to see colour. Cones are specific to the particular colour they are able to detect from reds, blues and greens; and humans and a few other primates are totally exceptional in possessing all three types of cones. Most mammals appear to be able to distinguish blues and either red or green (but not both). A good indication of what a certain animals may be able to see can be gauged by looking at their own colours. Primates display breeding colours and must therefore be able to see them. African monkeys as well as the chimps see a range of colours very similar to us humans. In short, among the vertebrates seeing the most range of colours are bony fish, reptiles,
birds, monkeys, apes and man. The thought and effort spent preparing flies from coloured feathers with which fisherman hope to out-do a fish, is testament to the fact that fish do indeed see colour. Lizards and skinks sunning on rocks display bright stripes and blue or orange tails that must convey a message to their own species and potential predators too? Diurnal animals have greater colour vision than their nocturnal counterparts. Many nocturnal animals are themselves mostly black and white in colour such as porcupines and honey badgers. For the big predators who are mostly nocturnal, there is more need for good night vision than for the ability to see colour. It is thought that what they see through their eyes resembles an old computer monitor with bright yellow letters on a green background. There is still only one colour present but it is still a colour monitor and not the black and white one. The ability to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us in full colour as we do is a precious privilege and it is hard to imagine it any other way!
First class passes for Mandla and Lawrence During 2007 Mandla and Lawrence Mathonsi (left and right in photograph below) attended a nine-month certificate course in Natural Resource management. Warden Colin Rowles tells us more. “The course was made possible through the generous offer of bursaries arranged through the Southern African Wildlife College. “These two aspiring conservationists obtained first class passes and were awarded their certificates at an award ceremony held at the College on the 1st of November. “Having completed this course Mandla and Lawrence have been appointed as members of the Reserves’ management team in order for them to gain practical experience in the field of Wildlife management. “We wish them all the best and offer encouragement as they embark on their chosen careers as future guardians of our natural heritage,” concludes Colin.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” Winston Churchill.
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The 2007 “Ground Hornbill Report” by Quentin Hagen The year under review has been another good year for the ground hornbills in the APNR with 11 groups attempting to breed, three in the Klaserie, two in the Umbabat and six in the Timbavati. The first egg of the current breeding season was found on the 17th October 2007 and the last egg was laid on the 4th December 2007. Overall, the ground-hornbills have laid in 12 nests, 11 of which still contain nestlings at the time of writing. All attempts have been in the artificial nests except one which is in a natural nest. The continued survival of the nestlings is particularly good, for eight groups also have the additional burden of also provisioning the previous season’s surviving fledgling: three groups have a surviving fledgling from the 2005-2006 season. The average first chick weight was 89.7 g (n=10, 78.1-119.0 g). Within the APNR there are now an estimated 29 ground-hornbill groups, totalling 103 birds. The average group size (3.55 birds) is the same as elsewhere in South Africa. Group density (1 group/ 62 km2) is considerably higher than the national average (1 group/ 100 km 2), but lower than the highest density recorded in southern Africa (1 group/20 km2 at Mana Pools, Zimbabwe). Thirty-three of the birds (32%) carry unique colour-ring combinations, allowing us to identify thirteen of our groups with certainty. At least 15 groups (ca 50%) currently include sub-adult birds. At the end of July 2007, project leader Morné du Plessis visited the APNR. Morné left the Percy FitzPatrick Institute at the end of August 2007 to become the CEO of WWF-SA. Supervision of the project has been taken over by Prof Phil Hockey, renowned ornithologist and senior editor of the latest edition of Roberts. Phil also visited the Project for four days in July/August. We urge all residents, staff and visitors of the APNR to record any and all ground hornbill sightings. For each sighting, please note the date, time, detailed location information (including GPS co-ordinates where available) and any additional notes. If possible, please also plot a reference point (e.g. “3”) on a suitable map. Lastly, please record any information about the size and composition of the group (Females have blue patches on the throat, while males are fully red. Juveniles have a less developed throat pouch that has not yet acquired the deep red colour of the adults). Sightings to be reported to Quentin and any queries regarding the project can be directed to Prof Phil Hockey or Quentin.
The Hare and the Python by Colin Rowles One Sunday afternoon in October my daughter, Jessica, and I were walking back to the office from the workshop at the HQ when we suddenly heard a strange screaming, squealing noise, we turned around. There we saw a large adult Scrub Hare jumping up and down in the grass, it appeared as if it was stuck in something and was trying to free itself, screaming all the time.It eventually leapt onto the path and came bouncing towards us trailing a small python which had bitten onto its rear leg. The hare ran to within a few metres of us and stopped abruptly, at this moment the snake seized its chance and in a flash it wrapped its coils around the unfortunate Hare. With the Python tightening its grip with each exhaled breath of its prey the hare uttered its last cry and fell silent. The incident took place at four thirty in the afternoon and for the next four hours the snake remained motionless with the Hare tightly constricted within its coils. At about eight thirty that night the Python began distending its jaws and commenced swallowing the hare head first, within fifteen minutes the snake slithered away with a huge bulge in its body.It was absolutely amazing to see a snake with a head no bigger than a “D” sized torch battery swallow a Hare the size of a Rugby ball.
“If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.” Nelson Mandela.
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Laeveld sterre: Orion en kie Die middel van die Laeveld-somer is hier met al sy drukkende hitte en hoë lugvogtigheid en reën. Gelukkig is daar een jagter, naamlik Orion, wat hom nie deur die hitte, reën of die feit dat dit nie tans jagseisoen is, gaan laat onder kry nie. Dit is die jagter van die hemelruim, Orion. Die somer- deur Louise Vermaak maande word altyd deur hierdie welbekende konstellasie oorheers. Orion kom nie alleen nie, maar bring saam met hom allerhande ander karakters; òf diertjies wat hy kan jag, òf diertjies wat sààm met hom jag. Natuurlik moet daar ‘n dier wees wat gejag word, en op die een-of-ander manier het die sterre-lesers duisende jare gelede die groep sterre direk noord van Orion as ‘n bul ge-eien. Dis moeilik om raak te sien hoe hulle dit reggekry het, maar hulle moes seker maar vir Orion iets gee om te jag. Wat wel onmiskenbaar is, is die helder rooi ster, Aldeberan, wat blykbaar die oog van die bul, Taurus is. Aldeberan is noordwes van Orion. Die baie helder blou-wit ster wat aan Orion se suid-ooste kant is, is Sirius. Dit is die helderste ster in ons hemelruim, en net 8.5 ligjaar weg. Dit beteken dat lig van Sirius 8.5 jaar geneem het om die aarde te bereik, maar die lig van Aldeberan het ‘n hele 60 jaar geneem om hier te kom. Aldeberan is dus 60 ligjaar van ons af weg. Daar’s nog drie diertjies direk rondom Orion. Sirius is die oog van die Groot Hond, of Canis Major soos hy ook bekend is, is. Diè lê op sy rug, bene in die lug, wanneer ons na hom kyk van die suidelike halfrond, maar in die noordelike halfrond staan hy regop. Direk suid van Orion is Lepus, die haas – weereens weet ek nie hoe ‘n mens ‘n haas hier kan raaksien nie, en noord van die Groot Hond is die Klein Hond, Canis Minor. Die helderste ster van die Klein Hond is Procyon, uitgespreek “pro-sie-on”. Die enigste een van hierdie drie wat moontlik na iets herkenbaars lyk, is Canis Major. Met baie verbeelding kan mens, wanneer jy strepies tussen die helderste sterre strek, dalk ‘n onderstebo hond sien. Die foto wat ons hier wys, is ‘n foto van Canis Major wat deur NASA vrygestel is. Die helderste ster is Sirius. Die ster direk bo Sirius, saam met die een aan die ver-regterkant, vorm die rug van die hond, en die twee helder sterre in die bo-linker- en regterkante, is onderskeidelik die voor- en agterpote van die hond.
Om rigting te vind: Orion word ook gebruik om noord te vind. Die drie sterre wat die gordel maak, is deel van ‘n pyl wat ampertjies noord wys. Om die pyltjie raak te sien, kry die gordel in die oog, en vind die ster wat die verste noord is van hierdie drie, genaamd Mintaka. Trek nou ‘n denkbeeldige lyn tussen die drie sterre. “Teken” nou ‘n denkbeeldige hoek van ongeveer 90° en gebruik Mintaka as die hoek se draaipunt, in ‘n suidelike rigting. Die aangrensende sy van die hoek wat jy nou, as ‘n tweede sy, “geteken” het, vorm die punt van die pyltjie. Kyk nou na die drie groepe sterre wat Orion se mes of swaard se skede uitmaak. Trek ‘n denkbeeldige lyn deur hulle om Mintaka te kruis. Hierdie lyn, sal jy sien, voltooi die pyltjie wat net wes van noord wys. In ons foto is al die hoofsterre van Orion sigbaar. Die pylpunt wys na links-bo.
Afrika Volksverhaal: Jagter en die drie zebras Orion is nie net in antieke mitologie ‘n jagter nie. Afrika volkekunde hou hierdie groep sterre ook in meer as een verhaal as ‘n jagter voor. Die ster Saiph is die jagter opsoek na iets vir die pot. Hy sien drie zebras, die drie sterre in die gordel (Alnitak, Alnilam en Mintaka) en lê aan. Ongelukkig kom ‘n storm-sterk wind skielik op en gooi die pyl na regs en beland in ‘n digte bos (Orion se skede, of die Orion newel volgens ons prentjie.) Die jagter weet egter dat daar in die bos jagters van ‘n ander aard is wat ook graag die drie zebras prooi wil maak: drie leeus. Hy besef dat hy sy pyl verloor het, en volgens die volksverhaal is dit waarom Orion na al die eeue nog steeds net so lyk: die leeus lê en wag vir die zebras om ‘n skuif te maak; die zebras is gevries sodat die leeus hulle nie kan sien nie, en die jagter durf nie sy pyl gaan kry nie!
“AWAKE! for morning in the Bowl of of Night / Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight ...” Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1048 -1123)
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New CET appointee There is a new face to be seen on the Children's Eco Training Programme, Kgaola Steffhen Shai (30), who has been appointed as Training Assistant. Kgaola was asked to provide a little background to introduce himself to Klaserie Chronicle readers. Over to Kgaola ... “I grew up in a rural area of Limpopo, Madeira (Ga-Sekororo) where I attended school and completed grade 12 in 1997. “In 2005 I moved to Pretoria to start a twoyear diploma in nature conservation. I spent 2007 in the Lowveld region doing practical training which is compulsory in order to qualify as a conservationist. “I did my practical work in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. While at TPNR I kept my ears open for possible job opportunities in the Lowveld region and heard of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve’s, Chil-
Make diary note of AGM date Kgaola Steffhen Shai. “I enjoy constructive conversation and discussion on conservation issues.” dren’s Eco Training programme. I was fortunate in succeeding with an application for work on the CET programme. “I simply love plants and this love extends to all natural resources. It became a dream to be a conservationist and protect the environment. I realize many people do not understand the importance of Nature. “I enjoy constructive conversation and discussion on conservation issues. I take an interest in other languages. I enjoy people around me although there are times when I prefer some personal quiet time. Going on walks is also a personal favourite pastime of mine.”
The Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) is scheduled for Saturday, 12 July 2008. We have great plans for the A.G.M. this year! The idea is to improve the attendance and get everyone to meet and socialize. Hence, the theme is, “family, including children, and friends”. There will be various guest speakers and entertainment for the children during the meeting and luncheon. Further notification and details will be sent to you in this regard but in the meantime, please make a note in your diaries of this date.
War of survival for the Peregrine Falcon “I wish to leave you with one final image. I find this an enormously evocative photograph by Patrick Seeton, formerly of Gordon’s Bay and now of Napier that speaks of environmental degradation, global warming and the conflict of the progress of mankind with nature. But it says something else, as neither the newspaper, which published it, nor, in all probability, 99 per cent of all readers knew what they
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had. Most people did not even notice the peregrine in the picture. So, over all, it is the falconers’ duty to keep alive that intangible spark, that empathy, within us, that unites man and raptor and which causes us to value and cherish them.” From address to the Bird of Prey Working Group Annual Meeting, South African Falconry Association, Sterkfontein Dam, March 2006. Dr Adrian Lombard - Mews Views - Volume 4 July 2006
Proudly produced in support of the ideals of the KPNR by: Zani Kunz, PO Box 1227, Hoedspruit 1380; Cell nr: 082 462 8252; Fax nr: 086 628 8733; E-mail: zani@cet-kpnr.co.za - all correspondence welcome.