Klaserie Chronicle Klaserie Kroniek No: 11; April 2009
Die Afrikaanse Geelvlekmossie is vas en die Gouewebspinnekopwyfie kan nie wag dat alles bedaar sodat sy van naby kan gaan kyk nie!
An astonishing sight for visitors from Ladybrand. The writer of the article below, M.C. Fourie, captured this image on camera of a Yellowthroated Petronia (formerly known in South Africa as an African Yellow-throated Sparrow) Petronia supercilliaris [805] caught up in the web of a Golden orbweb spider - Nephila senegalensis. See Page 9 for more on this spider.
Diè goue vangnette is dodelik Geelvlekmossie raak Gouewebspinnekop se prooi! Berig en foto’s deur M.C. Fourie van Ladybrand
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nlangs was daar verstommende foto’s in e-posse in omloop van ‘n groot Australiese Golden orbweaver spinnekop wat ‘n voëltjie gevang het. Suid-Afrika se eie groot, gemoedelike Gouewebspinnekop (Engels: Golden orb-web spider) (Nephila senegalensis) staan egter nie ‘n tree terug vir die Aussie-een nie. In Februarie was ‘n paar Ladybranders ooggetuies van hoe ‘n geelvlekmossie deur die sterk spinnerakweb van ‘n Gouewebspinnekop in die Klaserie Privaat Natuurreservaat gevang is. Die besondere gebeurtenis het hom afgespeel op Charloscar, die wildplaas van Bill (T.D.) de Bruyn van Vastrap, Ladybrand, en dit is aangenaam om dit met die lesers te deel. Soos die Klaserie se mense maar te goed weet was die spinnerakke van die Gouewebspinnekoppe vanjaar weer besonder volop tussen die struike en bome. Die twee-
spoorpaadjies op die plase is letterlik oral blokkeer deur die sterk geel nette van die langbeenwagters. Mens moes letterlik die ou groot moeders uit die pad uit weghark om te kon ry! Saam met Chris en Kitty Beukman was my vrou, Ronél, en ek gaste van Bill en Karine de Bruyn van Ladybrand. Ons was op ‘n besigtigingsrit toe ons op hierdie verstommende toneel afgekom het. Die voëltjie het nie ‘n kans gestaan nie. Hoe meer hy gespartel het hoe vaster het die taai geel spinnedrade hom verstrengel. Die groot spinnekopmoeder was deurentyd digby die voëltjie rond, baie belangstellend en nuuskierig. Astri Leroy van Ruimsig, naby Johannesburg, spinnekopkenner en mede-outeur van Spiders of Southern Africa het later in ‘n gesprek ons vermoede bevestig dat die Vervolg op bladsy 3 ...
Bill de Bruyn het besluit die geelvlekmossie moet maar losgemaak en weer ‘n kans gegee word. Die voëltjie kon egter glad nie vlieg nie alvorens al die taai fyn spinnedrade met sorg uit die veertjies verwyder is nie.
“My brother asked the birds to forgive him; that sounds senseless, but it is right; for all is like an ocean, all is flowing and blending; a touch in one place sets up movement at the other end 1 of the earth.”- Feodor Dostoyevsky (1821–1881), The Brothers Karamazov, 1880
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
Hi there ...
When I stand back and look at the Chronicle objectively, I am amazed to see the diversity - to notice how we have slowly but surely started to spread our wings. We have stories to tell about stars, inoculation, trips to all over from here to Cape Town. In this small place, in the big scheme of things, we are all trying to make a difference - and we are succeeding! My favourite story is Bushy Tales. How creative is that? The one thing I really miss is the special stories and photos of the owners and visitors to the Klaserie. Come on, people, everyone has a story to tell and a picture to share. We would love to hear from you, especially the stories that children have to tell. Please write to us. People have responded to the Kit a Kid request for donations and we are able to buy a few school uniforms and shoes for children. We do not have enough funds to help everybody so we would appreciate it if there are still people who would like to donate money for this worthwhile cause. Hierdie somer was ‘n seisoen van oorvloed: baie spinnekoppe, baie sprinkane, baie ooievaars, baie reën en baie bystand, donasies en seëninge vir Children’s Eco Training. Ons vertrou dat die projek net soveel rykdom en oorvloed sal ontvang die res van die jaar sodat ons nog meer blydskap en verligting na die mense kan bring wat dit nodig het. Geniet die Klaserie Kroniek en ek sien uit om julle met die Algemene Jaar Vergadering te sien in Julie. Vriendelike groete Zani
Donors assist in providing flip files for CET kids Thanks to a number of donors we have managed to provide flip files for the the CET kids, reports CET CEO, Zani Kunz. Donors were Sue and Dave Tindall, Dieter and Kathrein Baader and visitors to the KPNR in December 2008, Werner and Mary Berger. Zani expresses grateful thanks to all donors and despatched a message to the Bergers who responded as follows: “Many thanks for your recent email. Both Mary and I have thoroughly enjoyed our short Continued on Page 4 ...
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East Block 2008 Year End Function held at Shingalana.
East Block traversing area flourishes ... Ten properties in eastern KPNR (from Durham, Fife, and Ross) are now participating in East Block whose purpose is “to enhance the bush experience of all East Block members and their guests through maximizing the opportunities of sightings and encouraging adherence to conservation best practices on member properties.” Members of East Block are achieving this by: • Individually arranging traversing rights with other properties • Using a common private radio network for communication, primarily on game-drives • Adopting a standard radio protocol • Developing and adhering to standard operating rules and procedures, including co-ordination of sightings, discouraging of unnecessary off road driving, etc. • Providing rangers with up-to-date information about member properties, including maps, specific traversing rules and contacts • Facilitating the continued professional education of members’ rangers within the FGASA curriculum. An important side-benefit of the common radio network is that members are able to respond and assist in the event of medical emergencies, security or fire threats. Members’ rangers attend monthly meetings to be updated on current issues in the reserve, and to exchange ideas on how the procedures and protocols can be improved. Bruce Jenkins of Shingalana, Durham, and a member of East Block, summarized his view as follows: “East Block started a few years ago when a number of neighbouring property owners agreed to reciprocal traversing. We saw this as being entirely consistent with the KPNR pioneers’ original objective of dropping fences and sharing. Radio communication between us soon followed, and then standard operating procedures - all of which have contributed to making our family’s visits to the KPNR enormously more productive and enjoyable.” It is important to note that East Block is not a single traversing area which owners may choose to join and thereby gain access to all members’ properties - all traversing arrangements continue to be agreed between individual owners. East Block is an arrangement whereby those who have traversing agreements can optimize their bush experience through sharing information and using common radio and operating procedures. For further information, please contact Martin Stone (083 556 3271) or Alastair Wood (082 929 6111).
“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” Kahlil Gibran
Anthrax Inoculation Campaign in the Winter of 1989 - Colin Rowles reminisces
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nthrax was diagnosed in a buffalo carcass on nauseating turn we reloaded to dart the last rhino, a young calf. While seraching for further targets we saw a pride of the property, Rietvlei, in the Umbabat. lions had tackled the darted rhino calf. A large female This necessitated an inoculation camhad it by the throat. We dropped like a stone from the paign across the entire A.P.N.R. During the sky; in a cloud of dust and dry grass the lions following ten days thousands of animals were scattered, only the stubborn female remained. Two metres above her I stood on the skid, secured by my darted from a helicopter. We would usually monkey chain, waving my arms. She released her bite, take off after coffee and a preflight briefing.
and slunk off. After a good shake the calf trundled off. The team Trying to herd him back to his mother, full of adrenalin The team comprised the pilot, Mr Willy Venter, and three and stubbornness, he bumped the helicopter skid marksmen; Dr Gerrard Scheepers and Erwin Leibnitz in the with his head a few times, refusing to play the game. back seat while I would take up position next to the pilot. We flew at an altitude of approximately 750 feet in search KPNR Warden, Eventually we successfully brought his mum to him Colin Rowles and left the two reunited. of the target species buffalo, kudu, rhino, elephant, sable writes ... Vervet monkeys antelope and predators. Weaving through trees at low level we would Kudu On one of the first days a dart went astray and struck a kudu cow encounter vervet monkeys sunning themselves high up in the in the spine paralysing it. Having no firearm to destroy the animal tallest trees in the early morning. They instinctively climb trees I had the unpleasant job of severing its jugular. We then flew to escape danger, but terrified at the suddenly approaching straight to the nearby camp to inform the manager. My bloodied helicopter, they would pop out of the tops of the trees like hands and arms panicked the poor chap who thought I needed popping popcorn and scramble to safety. Baboons urgent medical attention. Baboons on the ground were the most comical. Trying to outrun Bushbuck On another occasion we flushed a bushbuck ram from the riparian the helicopter, loping along without slowing down they would vegetation along the Ga-Sekgobela River in the Umbabat. The just get closer to the ground until spread-eagled, looking like startled animal bolted with the roaring thunderous beast bearing spiders when viewed from above. They would only change direction and run the other way down on it; dashing and darting once the helicopter had passed through the riverine fringe for overhead. some time. We were soon unaIn spite of the nausea, the ware of our whereabouts and leanblood-shot eyes from the dust, ing out as I squeezed the trigger; the paraffin fumes and the genI realized that the animal was teareral fatigue we had some memoing across the lush green lawns of rable encounters. It is experia tourist camp. It leapt over swimences like these that make wildming pool sun loungers and life conservation such an enjoyamongst bikini clad sun worshipable career. pers with a bright orange dart dangling from its rump. Imagine the comments in the visitors’ book! Buffalo In northern Timbavati after a few aerial acrobatics we had a small herd of cantankerous old buffalo bulls darted. Next was a grumpy Vervolg vanaf bladsy 1 ... old male lion which had no doubt been amused at the buffalo being spinnekop (soos ook die Australiese een) nie sou geweet het chased. Weaving from side to side he presented an elusive target wat om met die voëltjie te doen nie, want voëls is nie hulle testing the pilot’s skill and patience. When the dart struck home, natuurlike prooi nie. Die web vang gewoon maar net dit wat he let out a growl heard above the turbine noise. I hoped that he daarin vasvlieg. Volgens Astri Leroy is manlike Gouewould not recognize me in future! webspinnekoppe (die klein rooietjies) sowat 1 000 keer kleiner Elephant as die veelkleurige wyfies met hul prominente geel en wit kleure Early one morning we were flying the Mopani scrub-dominated en bont pote. Hierdie spinnekoppe se indrukwekkende grootte gabbro areas of north eastern Umbabat. We saw a huge elephant en kleurrykheid skrik baie mense af, maar hulle is skadeloos vir bull running for the safety of the Kruger Park boundary. Flying mense. Om as onbetrokke waarnemer van die sykant af die natuur te very low with the skids almost clipping the tree tops two metres above the ground we came up from behind and drew up next to him. sien gebeur bly fassinerend en hierdie gebeurtenis met die voëltjie was iets besonders. Dat nie méér van die kleiner I fired a dart into his rump at almost point blank range. He stopped, voëlsoorte gevang word nie spreek boekdele vir hul knapheid turned around and started to walk back to where he had come from, om reg te vlieg en die nette te ontglip. as if to say, “You got me”. Dit was ‘n besondere voorreg om die skoonheid van die natuur Rhino in sy ryke volheid en verskeidenheid ten volle in die Klaserie A few days later we came across a ‘crash’of four rhino. From te kon beleef. Klaserie-plaaseienaars, veldbeampte en ook above the trundling animals two darts were fired almost simulta- almal met een of ander belang in hierdie wonderlike neously striking two rhino and then the third one. Climbing in a bosveldgebied is voorwaar op ‘n besondere wyse geseënd!
Goue vangnette is dodelik
“Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.” Nelson Mandela
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Two ‘chicks’ of a different feather! Introducing Elmarie van Heerden (left), the new CET Project Assistant and CET CEO, Zani Kunz, pictured at the recently held annual Sustainable Living Festival held in Hoedspruit at Southern Cross Schools.
Five new ‘chicks’ at headquarters story by Janice Rowles Late one March morning after the sun had already begun to warm the Lowveld day I spotted, amongst the rockery in a shallow scrape in the ground, neatly and carefully tucked under an Aloe plant, two cream/buff coloured, rounded to oval eggs. This was such an exciting find, but with each careful sneak visit there remained no sign of the mystery hen.
One morning, after three days of carefully checking on the two little cream/buff eggs, I was delighted to now find five little eggs neatly placed under the aloe, but still no sign of our mystery hen. Then, when I made my next visit the following day there she sat her plumage earthly brown with off-white flecks, a Natal Francolin. She is a solitary nester and only starts incubating after her clutch is complete. With dedication she sat incubating her clutch, the aloe leaves protecting her from some grey drizzly days, by now she had lined her nest with leaves and feathers and after 20 days only broken pieces of shell remained while mother hen and her five rufus brown Photographs of a Natal Francolin supplied by Patrick Seeton chicks can be seen enthusiastically scratching amongst the under... taken in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, January 17, 2009 growth in the Headquarters’ gardens.
Flip files for kids ... Continued from Page 2 ... stay with Rainer and Ursula Jahn in your beautiful Nature Reserve. When Rainer talked about your project we decided to give you a small donation. We wish you good luck with this project and continued success ...” Well, this “small donation” was a very valuable R2 000.
Flip files galore ...
Thanks to generous donations received from Sue and Dave Tindall, Dieter and Kathrein Baader and visitors to the KPNR in December 2008, Werner and Mary Berger.
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“Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. He will end by destroying the earth.” Albert Schweitzer
• Three students selected for Southern Cross Schools scholarships •
MAD Programme and Children’s Eco Training MAD - Making A Difference - is a Cape Town-based charity organization focused on providing educational opportunities for talented, less fortunate children. The Foundation was initiated through an ambition harboured by Francois Pienaar and his friends to make a difference in the lives of young South Africans. A link was formed between MAD, Southern Cross Schools and CET. This affiliation, formed on the basis of MAD and Southern Cross granting the scholarships and CET selecting and mentoring the progress of students, was launched with three scholars being enrolled at Southern Cross in January this year. Three students were chosen after a thorough selection process including the MAD criteria, psychometrical tests and interviews. There were 34 applicants from the rural schools surrounding the Hoedspruit area. Meet the three finally selected and watch their progress. Dikgetho Mametja is a Grade 8 scholar. She is presently third in her class academically, Dikgetho Mametja plays for the first Netball team and attended the MAD camp in April. Her favourite subjects are: Mathematics, English, Social Science and Life Orientation. She considers being a medical doctor as a possible career. Dikgetho was orphaned in 1997 and lives with her grandparents. Her school principal notes that Dikgetho “takes pride in her work and is a pleasure to teach. She is a very loyal pupil who participated
in athletics, netball and hockey for the school. Besides receiving an academical bar for an average of 84 per cent she also received a trophy as ‘best netball player’. She’ll be an asset to any school that appreciates her potential.” Then, Mashudu Mutshaeni is in grade 8. Says Mashudu: “My mother has three children and I am the second born. I live with my mother. I would like to own my own business one day or work in one.” Her favourite subjects are: Mathematics, Literacy and Life Skills. Mashudu Her principal reports: “She is a very loyal Mutshaeni pupil who participated in athletics and played for the school’s 1st Netball team. Besides receiving an academical bar for an average of 85 per cent she also received the “Best in Grade 8 trophies for English, Mathematics and Social Sciences. She’ll be an asset to any school that appreciates her potential.” Samkelo Mahlalela is in Grade 4. He is presently far above average academically. He plays in the football team and is in the junior drumming squad. He also attended the MAD camp in April. Says the school principal: “Samkelo is a hard worker and a well-balanced child. He enjoys cultural and sports activities and has a positive attiSamkelo Mahlalela tude.”
Laeveld sterre: Die Leeu se Speelbal Op die oomblik laat die sigbare planete ons bietjie in die steek. Daarby bedoel ek nie dat ons sonnestelsel planete het wat “onsigbaar” is nie. Eintlik praat ek van die ouens wat met die blote oog gesien kan word. Hierdie planete, al kan ons hulle wel met die blote oog sien, herken ons hulle nie sommer-so as planete nie want sien, hulle lyk op-die-oog af sommer soos gewone sterre.
geel, ronde balletjie met ’n strepie deur - nog steeds mooi genoeg om te geniet. Saturnus is sigbaar binne die konstellasie van die Leeu wat snags regbo ons koppe op sy rug lê. Die kop-gedeelte van die Leeu, ook bekend as die Groot Sekel, is redelik duidelik. ’n Beter beskrywing vir die Sekel is dat dit eerder soos ’n agterstevoor vraagteken lyk. Die “opening” van die sekel wat die Leeu se gesig aandui, kyk Wes, terwyl, soos reeds gemeld, die Leeu vir ons in die Suidelike Halfrond op sy rug lê. Saturnus is aan die Oostekant van die Leeu van die Leeu. Besigtig die meegaande kaart. Drie sterre in die vorm van ’n skerp-hoekige driehoek aan die Oostekant van die Leeu vorm die agterkwart van die lê-ende dierasie. Twee van die drie lê in ’n Noord-Suidlyn. Ongeveer dieselfde afstand tussen hierdie twee sterre, in ’n Suidelike rigting, sien ons ’n geel voorwerp wat bietjie helderder as die twee sterre is en wat nie flonker nie. Dis Saturnus.
deur Louise Vermaak
Die verskil in observasie is wel dat sterre gewoonlik flonker, of skitter. Dit word veroorsaak deur steurnisse in ons atmosfeer. Planete word nie soos sterre deur Die konstellasie ons atmosfeer be‹nvloed nie en flonker daarom nie. Hulle lig bly konstant. Die flonkering van sterre wissel; afhangende van die hoeveelheid vogtigheid, stof en besoedeling wat baie hoog in die atmosfeer voorkom. Die enigste planeet wat tans saans sigbaar is, is Saturnus. Die geel gas-reus is gelukkig die hele aand sigbaar, selfs deur ’n verkyker. Ongelukkig lê Saturnus tans só dat mens die ringe presies van die kant af sien. Dit lyk dus deur ’n teleskoop of verkyker soos ’n klein
Vervolg op Bladsy 8 ...
Kenyan proverb:“Anayetembea na mwenye tabia mbaya huiga tabia hizo.” (Kiswahili) “One who relates with a corrupt person likewise gets corrupted.” (English)
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2008 brings Christmas to the Klaserie bush
An awards ceremony took place in December where the winners in the respective age groups were announced and certificates and prizes awarded.
The Children’s Eco 2008 Training Workshops were concluded with a very special celebration of Christmas in the bush.We endeavoured to teach the children the spirit of Christmas ... to give and not only to receive. This does not necessarily mean buying expensive gifts. An appreciative attitude, respecting one’s natural environment and the people closest to one is to be truly grateful. Friends of CET and businesses in town donated Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, art material and even a Santa suit Thank-you! The children made the most beautiful and creative Christmas cards using material collected from the bush. These cards were sent to all the friends and donors of CET. The other exciting project was the making of angels using only bush material. Angels watch over us, they protect us and the people supporting CET are our guardian angels. We are also the “angels” of the Earth. Each child took an angel home as a reminder of his/her duty to be a guardian angel of Mother Earth. The awards ceremony took place where the winners of the respective age groups were announced. The children with a 100 per cent attendance record also received their certificates. Thank-you to Craig from Sleepers who treated the children to ice cream, cones and chocolate sauce. It was a special Christmas present to end off a successful year. Thank-you to one and all who contributed to the success of Children's Eco Training. May your Christmas be filled with blessings and may we all remember in 2009 ... “We do not have generations ... only years; to turn things around.” Lester Brown (Worldwatch Institute) Should you require more information about our activities please contact Zani Kunz on 082 462 8252 or visit our new website at ... www.ecochildren.co.za. Photo right: A good friend of the Children Eco Training Programme, Elizma Linde of Walton’s, Tzaneen, visited during the December training session and before long she too was immersed in the art of making indigenous Christmas cards.
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“When I have a terrible need of - shall I say the word - religion. Then I go out and paint the stars.” Vincent Van Gogh
Learning to ‘... give and not only to receive’
Images from the December training programme and remember, should you require more information about our activities please contact Zani Kunz on 082 462 8252 or visit our new website at www.ecochildren.co.za.
CET Winners’ December excursion Winners in different age groups (6 - 16 years) are identified annually. They attended four workshops during the holidays and scored the highest points as they complied with all the requirements determined by the trainers: participation, respect, behaviour, quiz and homework. This year the group consisting of managers, trainers and children were treated to a twonight stay at the Blyde Adventure Lodge. Here they participated in the exciting activities offered: Tubing, wall climbing, zip-line, night-line, volley ball and swimming in the Blyde River. On the Friday evening they were introduced to a Marshmallow braai - what a treat! Thank you to Barbara, Chris and Christopher Huddle for a very special and unforgettable weekend, Auto Doctor for the transport and Bodgies Sport for the donation of the water bottles and small rugby balls. The six- to eight-yearolds do not attend the excursion, but are awarded stationery, books and a sports hamper that they are able to use in school. There is nothing that Continued on page 8...
“Biological diversity is the key to the maintenance of the world as we know it... Eliminate one species, and another increases to take its place. Eliminate a great many species, and the local ecosystem starts to decay.” - Edward O. Wilson, The Diversity of Life, 1999 7
Winners’ excursion Continued from page 7 ... succeeds like success. We are looking forward to another great year. Here are the winners then with relevant information in the following order, name, age, camp: Dineo Mahatlane (6) KPNR HQ; Fumani Monareng (7) KPNR HQ; Brisco Mbetse (8) Ogilvie Thompson; Ntsako Manyika (9)KPNR HQ; Michelle Mathebula (9) Katzenellenbogen; Jane Mnisi (10) KPNR HQ; Evidence Mathebula (10)Camp George; Nkateko Manyika (11) KPNR HQ; Valencia Makwakwa (12) Anderson 4; Queen Manyika (13) KPNR HQ; Cardney Ndlovu (14)KPNR HQ; Marvin Mokoena (14) Whitmore; Again Mokgale (15) Ghekube; Keith Ndlovu (16)KPNR HQ; Herris Mathebula (16) Camp Mkombe; Cameron Ndlovu (16)KPNR HQ; Frank Mohlala (16)Charloscar.
Laeveld sterre Vervolg vanaf Bladsy 5 ... Waarskuwing: sterre beweeg op hulle eie tempo. Hierdie observasie is geldig vir die paar dae rondom 14 April 2009. Soos die weke verder in die maand en die jaar sal verloop, sal Saturnus al meer Wes vertoon ten opsigte van ons twee merker sterre. Saturnus soos ons hom ken
Om rigting te vind:
Ons kan Noord presies bepaal deur dieselfde twee sterre naby Saturnus te gebruik. Die ster naaste aan Saturnus se naam is Chertan en die ander een is Zosma. Twee aksies is nodig om Noord te vind. Die eerste is die makliker deel. Ons moet ’n reguit lyn tussen hierdie twee sterre trek en in ’n Noorderlike rigting verleng. Die tweede deel sluit afstand-skatting in. Vanaf die noorderliker ster, Zosma, is die hemelruim se Noord-pool naasgenoeg 70 boog-grade. Dis nou die moeiliker deel. Om 70 grade in die lug uit te meet, het ons vyf stappe nodig. Dit is as volg: 1. Staan regop en kyk Wes. 2. Strek jou linkerarm direk bokant jou kop reguit vertikaal in en jou regterarm presies horisontaal na Noord. Jou arms en lyf vorm nou ’n hoek van 90 boog-grade. 3. Gebruik jou linkerhand om ongeveer 20 boog-grade uit te meet. Dit doen ons deur die hand vanaf die pinkie tot die duim so wyd as moontlik vanaf regbo jou kop in Noordelike rigting oop te sper. Dis naasgenoeg 18 boog-grade. Voeg twee vinger wydtes aan die regterkant van jou duim by om die 20 grade op te maak. “Trek” hierdie 20 boog-grade af Eindig op Bladsy 9 ...
Report on 2008/09 Hornbill breeding season story and photos by Quentin Hagans The 2008/2009 breeding season started with the first egg being recorded in the Umbabat PNR in the De Luca nest on the 20th October 2008 followed by the Karan Khaya Group. It would be three weeks before the next egg was recorded down in the south of Timbavati on Hermansburg followed by the Senelala, Keer Keer and Pitlochry Groups. As in previous years the female of the Pitlochry group would sit tight on her eggs and make the process of inspecting her eggs an interesting challenge. The next four groups would lay about a week later. The last egg was laid on the 24th December and was discovered by Bruce McDonald in the Ndlopfu nest which is located near the club house allowing the members good sightings of the birds as they forage in the open area in front of the club house and on the lawn at reception. By Now the De Luca and Karan Khaya eggs had hatched. Twelve groups breed, ten in the artificial nests, one in a known natural nest and one in a natural unknown nest. We had various members whom joined me together with the two Timbavati students at the ringing of the various chicks as they were ready to fledge. As I write this article there is only the one chick still to be ringed and leave the nest. When we
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were ringing the Keer Keer chick we discovered that the right hind toe and claw was white At the beginning of the year we had a bit of a scare when Mrs Jannowski reported finding some black and white feathers near their camp. On inspection it was found that the feathers probably belonged to a stork, we then went to check up on the chick and found a very healthy looking chick in the nest. Your reports of group sightings are appreciated as always; in the coming weeks and months we need to follow up on all the groups that had chicks to determine the survivability of the chicks. We are also hoping to deploy our satellite transmitters in the next month. Sightings can be reported to 083 381 7555 or groundhornbill@telkomsa.net.
Photo left above: “When we were ringing the Keer Keer chick we discovered that the right hind toe and claw was white.”
“Nevertheless, the difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, is one of degree and not of kind.” - Charles Darwin (1809-1882), The Descent of Man, 1871
Arachnid alchemy story and photos by Judy Meeser of three centimetres can stop a Boeing 747. For years now research has been ongoing on how to manufacture, among other things, bullet proof vests out of spider silk. The stumbling block appears to be finding sufficient filament to weave the material. Silk is a protein, but unlike other proteins it does not decompose. We preserve other useful proteins by cooking, salting, drying etc. Spider silk has three ingredients that prevent its decay. Some of the proteins found in sour milk share a number of these properties. Researchers are now using a strategy called Transgenic animals to explore making synthetic spider silk. Transgenic animals are animals that have had genes from other species inserted into their genetic codes. In this case miniature goats in New Zealand have The big brightly coloured spider in the web is the female had a silk producing gene added to their genome. Somehow the Nephila. She may measure 15-30 mm in length scientists anticiwhile the male is only five millimetres and pate producing spider silk from weighs one thousandth of the female’s weight. the goat milk of A web of this magnitude must require constant these Transgenic maintenance. The weaving of a web takes up animals! a lot of the spider’s resources and orb spiders Back here in retend to eat the silk of any damaged section of ality, the orb spiweb to absorb and utilize the protein. The male ders have a busy of this species time producing does not produce the golden silk silk but what he and maintaining lacks in size and in their remarkable the home maintewebs. The genus nance departname Nephila is ment, he more than appropriately demakes up for with rived from Greek, courage and inge“nen” meaning nuity. The female “to spin” and will often eat the “philos” meaning tiny male after “love”- translated copulation. Where into “fond of spinning”. possible he
This summer has certainly been a time of plenty, along with the abundant flocks of White Storks we are witnessing this year, there are also an incredible number of Golden Orb Spiders. Their vast golden webs span almost every available gap between trees and shrubs. Reaching great vertical heights and stretching across distances of up to five metres, these strong spider webs have formed an almost continuous network of yellow silk ready to ensnare any insect, bird or bat that is on the wing. The golden silk is thought to attract pollinators such as bees.
presents a meal to her and while she is feeding he will copulate with his preoccupied mate. Besides the oversized female and the tiny males there are often tiny dewdrop spiders in the web. These small silver spiders are “klepto-parasites”. They patrol the web picking off the smaller prey caught therein and avoiding the owners who will eat the house guest if caught. The webs of the Golden Orb spiders are extremely strong. The female begins a web by sending out a stand of ultra thin sticky silk into the wind. With luck this strand will stick to an upright branch. Then she will release a much thicker line allowing the wind to slide it across the first. Once the line is thick enough to carry her she will cross to the second post and continue spinning the web. Research has been ongoing... bullet proof vests The silk of the orb spiders is exceptionally elastic and can stretch up to 40 per cent before snapping. Generally, spider silk also known as gossamer, has a tensile strength comparable to that of high-grade steel. It is said that a (hypothetical) strand with a radius
Nephila senegalensis Two excellent photos by Judy show; above, the female Golden orb-web spider at work and left, - look closely - that’s the minute male trailing behind the female Golden orb-web spider - Nephila senegalensis.
Leeu se Speelbal Vanaf Bladsy 8 ...
deur jou linkerarm 20 grade nader aan Noord te bring. 4. Dit vorm ’n nuwe hoek tussen jou arms. Kyk mooi na hoe groot die hoek is. Dis ongeveer 70 grade. 5. Neem nou hierdie afstand tussen jou hande wat deur die hoek gevorm word. Dis die afstand vanaf Zosma om presies by die hemelruim se Noord-pool te kom. Dit klink ingewikkeld, maar is eintlik eenvoudig. Oefen dit so bietjie om die gevoel van afstand-skatting sonder kompaste en GPRS’e te kry.¤
The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: “What good is it?” - Aldo Leopold (1886-1948), Round River, 1993 9
KPNR staff attend housekeeping course at SA Wildlife College - story and photograph by Janice Rowles During November and December 2008, Nikiwe Monareng, Constance Thabane, Emily Sedibe and Ruth Mtungwa attended a basic housekeeping course at the South African Wildlife College in the Hoedspruit Area.
Empowered and ready to ‘go’ with a new dynamic enthusiasm for the task at hand. In this photograph by Janice Rowles, from the left: Ruth Mtungwa, Nikiwe Monareng and Emily Sedibe (Constance Thabane was on leave at the time of photograph). Read the accompanying article by Janice for details.
The South African Wildlife College specializes in practical conservation and management courses and hosts students from South Africa and our neighbouring African countries. Klaserie Private Nature Reserve participates in the skills development of our staff through the Skills Development Fund sending staff on various courses to improve their skills and to empower them; skills required in their day-to-day work. After a request from the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, a practical housekeeping course was specially tailored for our ladies. The four ladies spent a week at the South African Wildlife College where a trainer gave them practical training in all facets of household cleaning and chores. The four ladies returned to the Reserve with great excitement and enthusiasm for their work. Each of the four ladies who attended the course will be presented with a certificate at the KPNR Annual General Meeting in July.
New Nompilo representative for Klaserie story and photograph by Janice Rowles Gladys Mgwena, recently employed by the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, has been appointed the Klaserie Nature Reserve’s Nompilo. The role of a Nompilo is that of a care giver/peer educator and change An important series of tasks agent, who teaches people how to lies ahead for the recently appointed Nompilo in the KPNR. Meet Gladys take care of themselves. Mgwena. Hlokomela in Northern Sotho means “take care”, and Nomilo is a Zulu and social related issues such as social word/name which means “mothers of behavioural change of farm workers. It is the Nompilo’s responsibility as the life”. Hlokomela is a project of the appointed representative to educate felHoedspruit Training Trust, which was low employees with the information they formed to work with farm owners to have learned. The Nompilo is also trained educate farm workers about HIV and to support and counsel fellow staff and AIDS. Hlokomela hosts monthly train- referring them to Hlokomela for help ing and support meetings for Nompilo when necessary. The Nompilo plays a representatives from a host of farms role in HIV/AIDS awareness days in and game farms surrounding the their place of work which are arranged Hoedspruit area. These training through Hlokomela. courses educate the Nompilos on many Gladys has to date attended three months health issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, of training at Hlokomela and has enthusuch as VCT (Aids testing), TB, STIs siastically arranged meetings with her (sexually transmitted infections), posi- fellow staff to impart the information tive living, nutrition and other health she has learned to them.
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Talk on cholera given at KPNR story and photos by Janice Rowles Hlokomela Training Trust in conjunction with the Department of Health in Hoedspruit were invited to the Klaserie Nature Reserve Headquarters on January 28 to address and educate our staff on matters relating to cholera. The invitation to attend was extended to all interested camp staff, many of whom gathered at the venue and listened to Yvonne, the Maruleng Health Inspector as she explained and described the symptoms of cholera and further provided information on how to reduce and prevent the spread of cholera. At the end of the discussion pamphlets reflecting information in the form of pictures were then handed out to all the staff. The staff thanked the Klaserie Nature Reserve office for the opportunities and service that is provided to them. See Janice’s photographs on page 11.
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” - Albert Einstein (1879-1955).
Kit-a-Kid, please The CET needs more guardian angels in the mould of Chantal Berrange and Ilonka Craucamp (see story on the right). to kit out the kids with uniforms. Zani reports that an initial guesstimate of R150 has turned out to be a mixture of “wishful thinking and old prices”. The cost - even with the help of PEP Stores - is now put at R250 per child (uniform with a pair of shoes). Says Zani: “We have taken the measurements of the kids and are in the process of ordering school uniforms for those children with the highest attendance record. We have received some donations ... thank-you, thank-you, thankyou but, dear me, we need more, PLEASE!” “We have between 130 - 150 regular attendees between the ages six and 16 years. “Please help us make a difference to the Klaserie kids’ lives,” is Zani’s plea. Banking details are as follows: Children’s Eco Training; Account nr: 013 253 611; STANDARD BANK; Hatfield Branch; Branch nr: 01-1545; Cheque account. Please use ‘SU’ and your surname as reference with the payments. Photo right: Taking the measurements for Kit-a-Kid.
Toys, clothes for the kids! How else can one describe it; CET’s CEO, Zani Kunz could only say it was “an emotional day but oh, sooo rewarding”. Lee-Anne Detert’s (Buffalo Lodge) sister, Chantal Berrange, gave three boxes of toys for distribution plus a huge bag of baby and toddler clothes donated by Ilonka Craucamp. All this was handed out at a crèche in Acornhoek where 68 kids were present in a little building. They had no toys. They had no books. There was no lawn outside to play on and no trees to provide shade. But now, thanks to the generous gifts they have toys and there are clothes for the little ones! The givers were humble and unassuming, Chantal saying, “I am only being a faithful servant, God is good!”
Educational talk on cholera held in KPNR Attentive (photographs, left and right) as camp staff listen to Maruleng Health officials explain and describe the symptoms of cholera and provide information on how to reduce and prevent the spread of the disease. At the end of the discussion pamphlets reflecting information in the form of pictures were handed out to all who attended.
“It seems to me that we all look at Nature too much, and live with her too little.” Oscar Wilde (1854–1900), De Profundis, 1905
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Bushy Tales explained Bushy Tale “Malala, get up my boy. It’s time for school. You are going to be late!”, shouted Mommy Warthog from the kitchen. Malala gave a snort and covered his head with the pillow. “I don’t want to go to school”, he thought. Malala didn’t like school. In fact, Malala didn’t like anything. He was lying in bed, thinking about how awful everything is, when Mommy Warthog pulled him out of bed. “Malala, breakfast is ready. You have to get up for school. Get dressed, wash your face. Hurry!”. “Why do I always have to listen to you?” Malala grunted to his mother. He got up and ate his breakfast, moaning and groaning all the way. After brushing his teeth he walked out the door, slamming it closed behind him. He took his usual route to school, kicking rocks. Suddenly Nandi, the hyena ran past Malala with a huge bone in her mouth. “Morning”, she said in a chirpy voice, but Malala didn’t even greet her. He just looked the other way, thinking “Why can I not be as strong as Nandi? She’s got the most powerful jaws.” (... to learn how the story ends write or send a message to the The Bushy Tale Team at the address given at the foot of the article alongside ...)
Dear Parent / Caregiver In today’s modern age we have every conceivable tool to help our kids to have a bright future. Schools teach children the “a-b-c” and maths. Monkeynastix and playball concentrate on the motor skills, but we have a desperate lack of teaching our kids necessary life skills, especially in South Africa. This includes social behaviour; not bullying, caring, respect, financial responsibility, the dangers of instant gratification. In our desperate search and having found nothing substantial to teach our own child we devised our own programme and want to share it with you. This is how it works: • Animals make an excellent tool to teach kids and our fun-loving adventurous character, Bushy Tale is sure to capture your child’s imagination. • He specially writes personalised letters. • We provide an animal story illustrating different life skills and it contains facts on nature. • A fun workbook is also included for your child to complete and send back. • An addressed envelope is provided to send your workbook back. • We mark the workbook and allocate points. • The workbook is sent back to the child with his next BushyTale Collection. • Now it is up to the child to decide what to do with his points. He can use it right away to earn something, or he can accumulate the points to get something better at a later stage. • Making choices is a life skill and it teaches the child to work for something he/she really wants. • We also provide children with fun-filled activity packs to keep them busy. Included in our activity packs are things like the Bushy Tale Collection, sand art, beading work, wooden construction kits, puzzles, CD’s and magic beans. • We have a selection of activity packs, but you are welcome to design your own. • We can give you advice on which activity pack would suit your child best. As parents we’ve all suffered from the nagging jingle “I’m bored”. Our activity packs are all nature based and the kids will love the diversity. We are sure that with Bushy Tale as your child’s Game Ranger, he/she is sure to have fun learning, not only about nature, but also important life skills without even noticing. If you have any enquiries, feedback or suggestions at any time, please feel free to contact us. Kind Regards The Bushy Tale Team P O Box 934, Hoedspruit 1380.
www.bushytale.com info@bushytale.com 21 Maré Street, Kampersrus Hoedspruit 1381.
Raging torrent Donovan Detert (Buffalo Lodge) took some awesome photographs of the Klaserie River in full spate on January 16 . This one was taken by Don while standing on the rocks in front of Nyeleti Camp. The water had already dropped by the Saturday morning but the river in front of Kitara continued to flow strongly by the Monday.
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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; Web address: www.ecochildren.co.za E-mail: zani@cet-kpnr.co.za - all correspondence welcome.