Finding love?

This morning all was geared to capture Rafiki and move her across to the large natural habitat temporary holding and release enclosure to meet Nicholas.  However Rafiki decided that there was noway she was going to go into the trap cage on her own accord.  Kevin begged, and begged some more, but to no avail.  Eventually he went down on his knees and begged some more, but although curious, she knew something was up and simply peeped into the cage and smiled – not today you guys, not ever!

Well eventually her time was up and Dr. Keet darted her.  She soon drifted off and could be carried out and placed into a transport crate before the antidote was administered.

By the time we reached the spotted hyenas release camp, she was wide awake, but just to be absolutely sure, the team quickly stopped in for a well-deserved cup of coffee.

 

Nicholas arrives

We can share some really cool news!  This afternoon Kevin Richardson (better known as the Lion Whisperer) arrived with young Nicholas.

Kevin has donated this young hand-reared male spotted hyena to SanWild.  Young Nicholas will be joined up with Rafiki tomorrow and we are all very excited about our new spotted hyena conservation program.  Once the two young hyenas have accepted each other; hopefully sooner than later they will enter the final rehabilitation phase that will see both released to the wild to become our first spotted hyena clan.