Serval bonding!!!!!!!

Good evening!!! Incredible week had so far as by the serval boma I was feeding and they were fairly shy, I was curious to find out why and then I heard the hissing of a cat behind me! I jumped and turned around so fast and it was the male we had released over a month ago coming back. It was amazing to see him there and doing so healthy, I crouched down and took a bit of time with almost getting my hand clawed off a few times, eventually made first contact with the big guy.

He seemed a bit uneasy at first so a stroked him once and then moved my hand. He looked towards me so I then moved my hand towards his face and next thing I know is he is licking my fingers! I obviously had to bring out my phone to take a few photos which made him a bit alarmed and became a bit angry so I backed away from him. 

 Going back a second time I went straight for his neck and gave him a good scratch! Was amazing to see this was happening as I fed him for about a month and it built a bond which is only going to get better

this is a video of stroking him for the third time so it was a casual gentle bonding time.

Remebering my camera!!!

So it has been yet another wonderful weekend here on the reserve where I was left alone to take the reins and manage this place. The day started with the bush cutting to keep the bush at bay. Checking the water holes and the serval, they are still doing well and he one is rather feisty! I went into the boma to feed them and took my camera with and got a few photos of him but there is one which I was rather impressed with.

after that was driving around the reserve checking up on the guys cutting and going deep into the farm on the old roads which is a lot of fun and a bit risky as the bush might have completely grown back in some places so it’s a bit daunting! Otherwise is it was a relaxed weekend nothing too serious happened which is a relief.

Thought this was a lovely photo #mothersday

Here are just a few photos of the land scape that I took on the south west side of the farm.

my gorgeous little serval!

My two boys, Monty and Mitch!

As you all know it was a while go that we got the two serval males who I have grown to love as they have become friendlier towards me and accepting me in their territory slowly but surely. I have been feeding them once a day or even twice a day depending on the weather. a few little interesting things that took place was that the elephants decided to make it their stomping ground and stomp down a few trees , one almost landing on the boma. This tree used to stand about 7m high so it was a large piece of wood which could have easily damaged the boma and set the Servals free.

Speaking of setting free, that is what shall be happening to them which is sad as you build up a relationship but it is a wild animal and needs to be free. I will do it the same as last time and set meat by the entrance of the boma with the gate open. Seeing as they are both males the dominant one will stay in that territory and then the other brother will have to find his own new territory somewhere else.

this was a photo i found of shiela! such a lovely little one!

I believe it shall be interesting to see if the male who keeps the territory won’t just live in the boma with the gate open because there is enough protection for him there to live. The one thing game need is water and you can in a way control them with it. If I stop filling up the water trough he will move to find water and if it’s too far for him to walk every day then he will just make a new territory for himself there.

having a wee bite of water buck for breakfast

The other Servals which have been let loose have only been sighted once and that was at dusk about a month ago. Was such a relief to see that she had been surviving and doing well because she looked healthy and when we saw her she was hunting a small little mouse or shrew? At the time we had a group of guests who saw the female cheetah with her cubs on a bush buck kill, the serval and a caracal on a baby bush buck. 

These were the last Servals that will be coming onto the reserve so now we will have a total of 6. 

I would love comments or any questions about my year or about Hopewell! Thanks

Monty and Mitch,my two new servils

On Saturday morning got up fairly early and doubled checked that the vehicle was prepared to go to Grahamstown for the collection of the two brothers, Monty and Mitch. They are both one years old and are a lot smaller compared to the breeding male who has been shown in previous posts. 

I arrived in Grahamstown strictly for business otherwise it would be a good party weekend!! Got my permit for the transportation of the servils and headed back to Hopewell. they got delivered straight to the boma area where they will be kept for the next month just to let them realise their surroundings and calm them down a bit.as with the others I will be feeding them twice a day and checking on their basic health to make sure that they are doing well at all times.

There is a complication that had risen as the male who was let out, that is his territory and will probably not move away as the other males are younger than him. I thought this may be a problem but following orders had to do as instructed. Upon arrival this morning with food I heard something in the bushes and looked back and could see nothing, so I thought nothing of it until I felt a wet nose on my knee. It was a high adrenaline moment, even though it’s a small cat, it can still send you to hospital for stitches. Backing off slowly and giving him a piece of meat he was very relaxed after that, depending on if he stays there he could maybe become slightly tame???All will have to wait and see. 

Will keep you updated on the boys

Hunting for servals

Our freezers are slowly running down to their last bags of meat that we cut off from the eland that I shot last month. We need to go shoot this week so we can always give the little guys their food but today is just so windy and the game usually goes into the dense bush which we have here on the reserve which makes that a little bit problematic. I am waiting for the manager to be free so that we can go use his rifle to take down hopefully two male water bucks, they are not from the Eastern Cape areas yet they seem to thrive here for some reason. I believe because they have go glands under their skin which excrete an awful smell so the ticks don’t go for them rather other animals. With predation on them they get eaten but are not first choice on the hunters menu. Here are some shots that I have taken at Hopewell of some of the water buck. il keep you updated on the whole process.appreciate the views and interest.

reasonable male close to the water hole