We had somehow an exciting but sad week at Bambelela. On Tuesday the Vet brought us a Sable antelope baby, born very late and to a first time mom, the decision was made to take the very weak baby away from his mom. After an examination at the Vet clinic the Vet didn’t had much hope as his coughing was almost evidence of him laying the past two days on the ground already…the nights winterly cold. With almost no hope the vet carried it to Bambelela. All volunteers were quick to help us preparing our new wooden heat-box where two red lights would keep him warm. Grass was cut and put out as bedding. Antibiotic Injections given and now we were full of hope. Rodney fed small amounts of surrogate milk and ask for a blankets as he spend his night next to the Sable antelope in the Box. The feeding became more difficult as the antelope’s baby’s nose started to block and as I rushed to the Vet to fetch the feeding tube the antelope died in Rodneys arms.

The same day people dropped of a young Dassie [Rock Hyrax] at the local Pet Shop. The Dassie was found in their yard just laying there. Gerda’s mom Meisie [the owner from the Pet Shop] called us immediately and kept the Dassie comfortably warm with a hot water bottle until we were able to be there to fetch her. It’s a 2 months old female. Her name is Louise now and we are treating three of her burnt feet. Gerda, Belinda and Volunteer Agathe from Nizza are taking care of the little one. The wounds are healing and the Dassie-Girl is having a good appetite. Her diet consisting out of formulated milk, some fruit and veggies and what she loves most is green leaves…….Soon we hope to start introducing her to our big male Dassie Louis and his family….but for now we keep her in a clean and sterile environment [cage] to avoid any risks of infection of her open feet. The care taker are making turns on taking her in her cage outside for some sunshine and in the house we have the heated Blanket on for her comfort.

Sunday SOS call: former Student-Volunteer Jan Hendrik had picked up a female Vervet Monkey laying on the Rocks at Monate Lodge, where he is working. Desperate Vervet welcomed the comfort of being picked up and brought to his house. She was very weak. Soon she started eating the offered food by Jan Hendrik but something must have been terribly wrong, she wasn’t ok. Jan Hendrik drove the 1,5 hour drive to Bambelela but sadly the beautiful approx. 4-5 year old Vervet-Lady died minutes before arriving here at Bambelela. I tried CPR for almost 10 minutes but all in vain, I couldn’t bring her back. When I checked on her closely I could see an extremely swollen gland which indicated an infection in her lower body….listening to Jan Hendriks explanation of her behavior I somehow can’t help thinking that she might have died on pregnancy poising. We could feel her being pregnant, early stages but perhaps big enough that she didn’t abort naturally….she wasn’t hurt, no bones broken….we called her MONATE and took her over the river for her final resting place under a tree on Bambelela.