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

Tough Times

   These last 48 hours have been quite hard for me. First, I was told I was going to foster a baboon, and got used to him. Then, I was told I was to foster a baby vervet, and I got used to her. Later, my brood expanded to two when a newborn (literally, with umbilical cord and all) vervet came in. I had just got the two settled, when I was told someone was coming to pick them up. What? This made no sense to me, everyone who had talked to me had implied that I would be keeping the babies for several weeks. It turns out that CROW was well past its legal limit for baby vervets, and had to call on a foster to help. This is not what bugs me, but simply that I was given the false impression of hope, as well as just enough time with the vervets for us to bond. Not only am I upset, but Snookie was terrified when the lady came to take her away, bouncing from foster mum to foster mum is definitely not good for anyone.
   I do however have some pictures of the babies that I should be posting later today, and hopefully things will improve for me in the days to come.

Motherhood

   For the first two days, I had the same duties as the 5 other volunteers: preparing food, cleaning cages, checking on animals and the like. After I was settled in, I was pulled aside in a meeting with Estie, Sam, and Daryl, where they proposed I become mom to Robby, the infant baboon at the center. I was thrilled, and ended spending a day playing with him so he could get used to me. Sadly, Robby was suspected of having an illness, so I am no longer able to care for him. Instead, I am now caring for Snookie, a baby vervet, around the clock.
   Last night was my first night with Snookie. She's quite a beauty, and has a much prettier face than some vervet babies. I have to stay inside most of the time, for if the wild vervets saw me, they would attack. She gets bottle fed every 3 hours, though she thankfully slept through the night (starting at 1 am)! The rest of the girls seem a bit put out that they had not been asked to do such an exciting thing, though they do enjoy "sitting" for Snookie occasionally.
  The center itself is beautiful, with lots of trees and the sounds of birds follow you everywhere. It is gated, and looks a bit like a prison at night when all the security precautions are in place, though I'm happy to know I'm safe. There is a spar not far away, and I have absolutely fallen in love with its chocolates!

Well...

Internet is a bit hard to come by here, although I still should be able to post every week or so. I reached the wildlife center safely, and because of my previous experience, I have been entrusted the care of a baby vervet monkey. Some of the other animals here include: a baby baboon (was mine for a day, that story later), LOTS of baby birds, tortoises, storks, and many more. Wish me luck with my new baby, and that I at least get a bit of sleep!

-Becca