A House Full of Females....

Well, including me, there are 8 volunteers in the house now: Shelly and Sara from Kansas, Michelle and Amy from the UK, Julie from Australia, Cherie from Jo'burg (South Africa), and Eva from Germany. We still also only have one bathroom, and there is DEFINITELY tension in the house. I overheard some of the girls complaining that I am always telling them what to do, I am not sure if they realize that I did EVERYTHING they are doing by myself for the past couple of weeks, have been at the center for quite some time, and have been instructed by the clinic staff to oversee and instruct all of them. I am trying to be patient, though this task is difficult when the majority of the volunteers dig their heels in whenever they are asked to do something that involves dirt, droppings, worms, or dead chicks (99% of the work). I don't exactly know what they expected...as if the constant state of  being covered in dirt or poop that goes along with animal care never crossed their minds when becoming a volunteer.
  Enough of my complaining. I am still enjoying myself for the most part, though I feel a wide hole where Robby used to be. I make up for it by watching the adult baboons, which luckily led to the discovery of a large gash on one of the females bum's (which the vet will check out tomorrow). Tomorrow, I am going to a nature reserve where they have zebras and I am quite excited! Hopefully, I will get some good pictures.

Finally Getting to See Some of Africa!

Though saying goodbye to Robby was sad, I was quite excited to get out of the center for a bit. I went with Sam, Mabel, and Robby, and the trip lasted about 3 hours. Most of the time we were driving through the mountains, and the view was spectacular! When it came time to hand Robby to his new "mom" I was in tears. I was shocked and angry when the woman tried to lift Robby out of my lap saying "Come to mommy! Yes you love me don't you?". I thought how unsensitive of her it was to try and take him from me when I was clearly upset and still saying goodbye. I didn't say anything but firmly held him in place and took a small step back.
   On the way back, I was tearful, but Mabel and Sam surprised me by taking me to vist Howick(sp?) Falls, a beautiful waterfall. There I took some pictures and haggled for another painting similar to the first one I bought of elephants. While on the trip, Mabel also invited me to her 40th birthday party, an invitation I of course accepted.
   Mabel's house is located in Pinetown, around a half an hour from Yellowwood Park. It was quite nice, and there were around 30 people at the party. It was a true braii, where the food isn't actually ready until late and the main attraction is standing around the braii(grill) and talking. They cooked so many different kinds of meat, and I tried quite a bit. I also politely accepted a sip of wine, though it is definitely not my thing. I spent a large portion of the party playing with Mabel's puppy and her neice, it made me miss the kids I sit for at home. We didn't head back until around 1 and I was exausted.
   Yesterday, Michelle and I ventured to Ushaka Beach by way of minibus taxi (a total fare of R10 as opposed to R150 for a 'proper' taxi) and spent most of the day there. The minibus taxis are said to be unsafe, but I like them. They always blare music and people are stuffed inside like sardines (23 in one the size of a van, I kid you not) but all the people are friendly and offer you directions and advice. After arriving, I walked along the beach and in the water, quite warm, while I looked for shells and beach glass. For lunch, we went to a nearby pub and sat for 3 hours listening to live music and watching drunk people dance. We also picked up some ice cream and browsed the overpriced shops before grabbing some cotton candy and heading home.
   Today, 4 more volunteers are set to arrive and I am not looking forward to sharing a shower with 7 other people...wish me luck!

My Baby is Leaving Me!

Sadly, as well as happily, Mabel and I will be driving Robby to the 'Burg (Drakensburg area) to live with other young baboons so he can grow properly. As much as I moaned about him, I know I will be in tears. I am happy though that he has the chance to become a wild baboon and has managed to escape the black market pet trade he started out in.
   Aside from this news, there are 3 new volunteers at the house. The first is from the UK but the other two (daughter and oh-so-controlling-over-everyone mother) are from Kansas. I have already been told by the mother that I am not eating well enough (since when is granola and yogurt not healthy?) and had to push her to do every single cleaning task we are presented with. I am frustrated that I had been doing all of the work by myself for the past few weeks and now someone else is trying to come in and tell me how to do it better. Besides that, I am happy to have some company in the house as it was getting lonely.
   I miss the zoo, my family, and home, though I love it here and have no desire to return any time soon.

Death at the Center

Recently, there have been several very sad deaths at the center. A hyrax that came in having been attacked by a hawk, was found dead yesterday morning. I was upset because despite its killer teeth, I had grown attatched. What was even worse was finding out she had been lactating, meaning she either had young or was getting ready to. A beautiful darter that came in also died, as well as a couple of birds in the baby room.
   Today, some workmen brought in a box of 42 baby pigeons. I helped look them all over, and we put aside ones that looked a bit worse for wear. After feeding all of the others, I found that the 6 set aside would need to be put to sleep. I decided, for experience, that I would help out. It was a terrible thing to be ending the life of a small helpless baby, but they would have died later on. I told each one in turn that I was sorry, but I didn't falter. I know these experiences will help me in the future, despite today's sadness.
   Robby is still growing like a weed. The center has decided that if we do not get another baby in soon, he must be sent away to others so he can lead a proper life. His teeth are quite sharp now, and he can really bite hard when he is ticked off! Hopefully, he can stay here with me, but ultimately I must do what is best for him.

Motherhood has its ups and downs

Sorry I haven't been able to post in a bit, but that's partly due to my duties with Robby! He is growing, and gains new skills everyday. Since my last post, he has learned to dig, jump even higher, strays even farther from me, and is less nervous around other people. His canines are almost all the way in, and he has another pair close behind! Since it is a Sunday, the computer lab closes soon, but I hope to have more information later!

....It's a Boy!

  Yup, thats right, despite the efforts of my parents, I have become one of those teenage mothers. I mean, the baby is a baboon, and I didn't have to deal with the physical birth aspect, but I promise you, other than that it's the same things. Actually, I would say that it is harder. Though Robby is cute as can be, he is also a bundle of endless energy and trouble making all wrapped up in a devilish little package.

5 Reasons Human Babies are Easier than Baboon Babies

1. Baby baboon= two year old olympic gymnast in a body the size of a newborn human
           While this means you don't have to worry about supporting his head, you do have to worry about him pulling full coffee mugs off the tables, attempting to eat everything in sight, running away, and anything else dangerous you could imagine.

2.You cannot cut a baboon fingernails
           Not that he would let me, but even if he did, baboons have primitive nails. This means the skin underneath grows out with the nail, like a claw open on one side. It is hard to explain, but I would seriously harm him if I were to cut them, no matter how much it hurts when he pulls on my eyelashes or crawls up my legs.

3.Robby is literally on my body for 99% of the time we are awake (5 AM to 9PM)
           Unlike a baby human, Robby cannot be "put down for a nap." He must stay in contact with me because in the wild, the baby is on the mom 24/7 for around 6 months. Not that I don't try to get a bit of peace...I'll tell you, getting dressed is something I now consider a herculean task.

4. He has a tail...
           Robby's tail has created several difficulties. First off, I have to cut holes in his diapers (I've gotten into the habit of calling them nappies). The problems with diapers do not stop there. Have you ever tried to wipe the bum of someone who just wants to whip his tail around and create a giant mess of everything? I didn't think so. Also, Robby has taken to clinging to my leg when I walk around. This is difficult because I have to be very careful I don't step on his tail!

5.There's no hope of him eventually being able to talk.
           Finding out what Robby needs is all trial and error. With human parents, they can look forward to the day when little Suzy learns her first couple of words and can ask for what she needs, though I will never see the day when Robby talks.



More on Robby later (as he pretty much now consumes my life)

-Becca

My Daily Life

As I have resumed regular duties at the center, most of my days follow a general pattern. I get up around 6, have breakfast (my diet consists mostly of grains, fruit, and veggies now) and put on my 10 cups of sunscreen and head up to the center by 7. The morning is spent in the kitchen preparing food. The center caters mostly to mammals and birds. I have developed the ability to separate my mind from my body in order to prepare chopped chicks, exactly what it sounds like, for the carnivores. My favorite part of the food prep is setting out the romix, a mix of grains for the waterfowl. The mix is the sweetest smell, similar to a barnyard, and allows me to escape both the heat and somewhat offensive smell of the kitchen.
   After feeding, we sit around waiting for someone to tell us if they need help with anything. On Sunday, I helped turn the ground in an exhibit in preparation for a new resident. Lunch runs from 12 to 1, and is a welcome break from the heat and sun. I have found several books, mostly British, in the house that I have taken to reading in my free time, and have gotten through 6 already. Obviously, we cannot leave the center after dark, so there is not always much to do. After lunch, there is another feeding, then more waiting for assignments until 3, when we get off. I like spending time with the staff and learning more about the different cultures of the people around me. Something that really surprised me to learn is that there is no curfew in the U.K., my roomates laughed and laughed at the concept.
   Robby, the baboon, is being testing for TB (deadly to primates) so hopefully it will be negative so I might resume my nanny duties. The staff can see I am quite interested in primates, so I was allowed to go on a vervet rescue, only to get there and find the male had died from a pellet gun wound.
   Death is a daily shadow over the center. I am saddened by the amount of deaths that I deem unneccesary. The attitude of South Africans is that a wild animal cannot live a full life in captivity, so even if an animal could live a full life, say as an eternal educational resident at the center, it has to be put down if it would not be able to be released. Please keep Robby and myself in your thoughts, and keep warm!

-Becca