One thing I've learned about going on vacation, is that I don't like to relax. How can I, when there's so much to do and so little time! I want to see ALL THE THINGS! And most of the time I vacation with my husband he responds with a blank stare and a "why would you want to do all of that?" So this time around we went to Turks and Caicos, a small island chain in the Bahamas whose island upon which we landed is only 38 square miles, so I think he assumed he would have me boxed in by ... Read more »
On Safari
Going rate for the blond one: 20 cows, plus shillings.
This post is part of a series documenting a trip undertaken by a team of volunteers with World Vets who traveled to Arusha, Tanzania in June 2012 to provide veterinary care for the under (or should be say un-) served donkey population. For the full series of posts covering World Vets, please click here. I think genuine smiles are much more interesting than canned ones. You can tell. You can always tell. And as much as posed photos work in certain circumstances, I tried to avoid overly ... Read more »
Me Jane
Many, many years ago, in college, a group of classmates went on a group trip to Africa to see wildlife and go on safari. As a biology major, this was pretty much the penultimate experience of a lifetime. As they all took off excitedly for the airport, I sat in my dorm room and sulked because I was a typical college student, and as such, had no extra funds for gallivanting across the globe. I grew up idolizing Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey, dreaming those typical romanticized dreams of the Out of ... Read more »
Bayers of the Lost Bark
My front yard is currently in a tremendous state of disrepair, due to a nasty trio of invasive ficus trees, an endangered water main and a threatening note from the homeowners association about the one brick that was out of place. It looked a bit like an archaeologic dig once the landscaper went after it with a mini excavator. Hey, that almost reminds me of something..... da da da da, da da dum.... ... Read more »
On Safari: Famine
It takes all kinds of creatures to maintain homeostasis in a stable ecosystem. On the savannah, the laboceros and the goldenbeast have achieved an uneasy tolerance. Despite limited resources, the denizens of the plains have managed to carve out their own niche, and peace is maintained. Usually. ... Read more »
On safari: It’s Good to be King
It's springtime on the savannah, and our Goldenbeast is growing up. With his first birthday rapidly approaching, the Goldenbeast is reveling in his newfound authority, standing on the precipice of adulthood just as springtime waits to ascend into summer. He has, for example, taken ownership of prime savannah real estate. ... Read more »
On Safari: Herd Management
No single person has a more challenging job at the reserve than the game warden. His role is to maintain healthy populations that remain diverse. Every so often, this includes the introduction of a new species into daily life on the savannah. ... Read more »
On safari: After the Storm
Behold the desert savannah. Usually a placid Garden of Eden for goldenbeasts and jungle ocelots alike, this tranquil landscape has been torn apart by a rare and brutal lashing from Mother Nature. How does the mighty Goldenbeast adapt to disruption? Can he survive the transformed landscape? ... Read more »
On safari: Ocelot vs Goldenbeast
Our cameraman has spent months, nay, years, stalking the elusive Domestic Jungle Ocelot. His patience has finally been rewarded. He is usually a nocturnal creature. At night, when the denizens of the day have retired, he emerges from the depths of the garage and stalks his prey. Namely, veterinarians. Oblivious to her imminent doom, the veterinarian slumbers. She wakes up to the silent kneading on her chest as the ocelot sucks out her her life's breath and bites her on the ... Read more »
On safari: Goldenbeast cubs
In this episode of On Safari, we follow a curious young Goldenbeast cub as he explores the world around him. Behold the mighty Goldenbeast. Part Golden, part beast, all hunter. We first spot the notoriously elusive beast at the water hole. We sneak in for a better look, trying our best to be quiet. But our paltry skills are no match for the mighty beast's superior hearing! He licks his chops in anticipation! And he springs into attack mode! Oh no! Tell the ... Read more »
On safari
Today we venture to the savannah in search of the elusive Goldenbeast. His vibrant coat is in stark contrast to the lush greenery. He is better suited for camouflage in his native environment, the leather couch. He settles down at the edge of the plains with the remains of his latest kill. But the savannah is a popular destination for wildlife viewing, and it doesn't take long for the tourists to swoop in to try and steal a hug. Uh oh. There is a whole busload of ... Read more »
