Alex’s Blog – September 22
It’s time once again for Alex’s musings and observations following a busy September at Watatunga.
How exciting, for today, our male Roan started his journey to help his species. He has passed with flying colours all the various medical checks and tests at this end and staff from Chester came down this morning to collect him to take him to their herd of female Roan to add to the genetic diversity available for their captive breeding programme of these highly endangered antelope. Whilst always a bit of a downer to say goodbye to such a magnificent animal it is so exciting to think his progeny are more than likely to be introduced to their wild habitat in southern Africa. We shall follow his progress with great interest (and pride!!!!)
A new chapter begins ….
Settling in and acclimatising himself to his new surroundings in a glorious paddock up at our Stables accommodation site is a beautiful Scimitar-horned Oryx who has recently travelled up from Longleat to become, we hope, a companion for our existing male (pictured) on the Reserve. He appears very settled already but we shall give him time before introducing him to our existing male. It is always an exciting time when introductions are managed to see how the individuals interact with each other and with those incredible spiral scimitar shaped horns we hope the introduction goes well. Apparently their initial meetings will be in our slow release enclosure, just so we can monitor and check on them more easily than in the wider expanses of the Reserve.
How do you do ….
As part of the roan transfer Chester brought down a magnificent new Sitatunga male for Watatunga. Such a very special animal as this species features in the name of the Reserve. Largely a swamp antelope and found in the world’s largest inland delta – The Okavango in Botswana – this antelope displays many characteristics common to swamp, flood plain dwelling animals. Spots and stripes on its coat to help break up the outline of each individual as it travels through tall grasses and reeds and wide splayed hooves to help moving through soggy and damp ground. This new male has the most amazing set of horns and I was delighted to be able to see him within a few days of his arrival. Magnificent, very calm and settled.
Welcome ….
I have been increasing asked as the temperatures have started to drop whether we need to take additional measures to protect the animals and birds in the Reserve for differing weather. The short answer – as with when it was very hot – is not really. Despite the species we have here coming from all over the world the individuals on the Reserve have all been bred in captivity and most in the UK. It is illegal to trade in wild caught animals and birds
We do notice some changes though. The Indian Sambar and Barasinga deer change colour with their darker winter coats allowing for more absorption of the sun’s heat and aids in camouflage. The diet of the Pere David deer can also change slightly with more aquatic vegetation being eaten as grasses fade. The Barasinga develops a shaggy mane which is especially noticeable in the winter months
Deer are well adapted to cold air temperatures, if they are dry. Their hair is hollow creating an insulating layer against the cold.
Our White-lipped deer and Père David Deer grow a softer downier under layer that develops to protect them against -25 of their natural habitat.
And the homo sapiens on the reserve are now wearing our thick padded winter coats and considerably more layers than earlier !!!!
Seasonal changes …..
Watched some fascinating interaction today between the Blesbuck and Blackbuck male on the Reserve. Both are entire males which perhaps explains their behaviour. As the Blesbuck grazed the smaller Blackbuck walked purposefully towards him, head high and tail lying along his back. He walked with a very upright stance, posturing as he might be expected to do to another competing male Blackbuck. They engaged each other with their horns and pushed each other back and forth a few times and then the Blesbuck settled to continue grazing. The Blackbuck then continued circling around although no contact was made between the two, and then they both walked off in the same direction. The Blackbuck certainly maintained a more rigid less relaxed pose with the Blesbuck seemingly ignoring him although aware of him. I love watching these interactions and trying to understand the whys and wherefores. As there were 2 female Blackbuck in close proximity I suspect the male was just letting the Blesbuck know to stay away from ‘his’ girls. There was no serious intent behind the moves but just fascinating to watch and interpret for our guests
Just checking you out ….
Whilst the larger Reserve species often impress by their sheer size – notably the Indian Water Buffalo and newly arrived Eland – I often find the smaller species equally engaging and when you can, as we have done today, sit quietly within 5m of a female Roe and her fawn as they lie amongst the bracken of the woodland it really is an enchanting time. The generosity of these two in allowing us such a close up view made the sighting extra special. Their relaxed behaviour makes it almost unbelievable that they are wild and not domesticated individuals. Following that was another close encounter of the bovine kind when a young male Sitatunga just lay amongst the seeded thistle heads of the wetland. Remaining there for everyone to have an awesome close view and then just slowly walking away. I wonder what they think of us? Do they find us as interesting as we find them? What would Dr Doolittle tell us about what they might be saying or thinking?
Up close and very personal ….
How things can change in a short time. Our Reception duck pond has really been a wonderful focus this year. It is remarkably easy to while away time watching at close quarters the antics of the pair of Bahamian Pintails, 2 pairs of White-faced Whistling ducks and the 5 Mandarin males on the waters. The Mandarins have really shown their characters this season as well. They moulted their beautiful colourful feathers earlier this summer and I am sure they sulked when that happened. There was certainly a less ‘we know how stunning we look’ attitude to the way they went about their daily activities without the glorious purple, blue, maroon, tan and other colours of their full plumage. And they were often seen skulking or sulking in amongst the bull rushes, willows and reed grass. But now those feathers have grown back (and so quickly) the sulks have gone and once again they glide and paddle their way around the pond knowing they have to be one of the most colourful and splendid duck species we have
There once was an ugly duckling ….
Oh wow, why doesn’t my command of the English language find the right words to describe our Cape Eland. Having arrived here, I think he must have spent his first 6 weeks concealed amongst the trees of our wooded and forested sections. I know my colleague Sarah and her Wednesday team saw him quite a bit but he was noticeable by his Houdini qualities whenever I was around. But recently there he has been, standing away from the shadows and the dark, out in the open and showing just what a magnificent example of the largest species of antelope in the world he really is. It is difficult to imagine he could get any bigger but this lad from Knowsley has only just turned 4 and so can still grow. And what an animal he is. Cryptically coloured to blend in with his natural habitat amongst the fynbos plants and shrubs and savannah grasslands of the southern Cape around Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa. His willingness to come out shows us how he is now relaxing into his new environment here at Watatunga and feeling secure enough to come out into the open more. Which is such a delight for us all.
Drop dead gorgeous ….
