Three Weeks Already... Where Has the Time Gone?

I had full intentions of blogging yesterday afternoon, but as it turns out I was too busy burning my kneecaps a lovely lobster red colour. How I had managed to apply sunscreen every where but my knees is beyond me... and they really hurt. I was relaxing in the sun reading my book for four hours before I noticed my tanning session had gone bad.

Last night the four of us celebrated our final day together as one unit. Today another student joined our ranks to complete research for her dissertation as well. We spent the night around the fire until we no longer had any wood to burn, drinking ciders and sipping Amarula. When the fire had burned down to a heap of smouldering ash we made our way inside to watch I Love You, Man.

Kirsti arrived at 8:45am this morning and we gave her a run through of how we attempt to live at the Loose Mongoose. By 9:15am we had our lunches made and were ready to head out for another day. Nothing too crazy happened today, aside from Ntini getting chased off by one the adult cows from the main herd, so I have decided to provide more detail into the data collection that takes place everyday here on the PGR. Also... Natalie had mentioned that she had no clue what I was taking about when I mentioned “focal samples” and “30-minute scans”. Thus, I will fill everyone in.

We conduct two types of research on a daily basis when we find the elephants: 30-minute scan samples and 15-minute focal samples. When we first come across a herd (The main herd, also known as the AB herd, the Orphan herd, or individual males), we identify the bulls present as well as the matriarch and any adult females. We then conduct a 30-minute scan sample. This “scan” is basically a freeze-shot of the herd and is used to identify the behaviour of the herd as a whole. For example, if we are taking a scan at 1:00pm, we count ourselves down and everyone views the herd simultaneously through their binoculars. We then decide what the main behaviour of the herd is. This includes behaviours such as feeding, moving, socializing, and resting. For each scan we include the gps coordinates, distance to the herd, bearing, vegetation type, and dominant vegetation species. The 30-minute scans are taken in 30-minute intervals until the herd can no longer be successfully samples (usually due to the herd moving into deep thicket).

Our 15-minute focal samples are conducted on individual animals within the herd. Our research is based on the vasectomised bulls, OJVM’s, and the adult females so we use this criterion to identify suitable elephants for our focals. When we have found a suitable individual we use our identification kits to ID the elephant before starting. Working in pairs, we basically record every behaviour shown by our focal animal for fifteen continuous minutes. One person watches the animal with her binoculars (the “caller") while the other one monitors the time and records the behaviours that the other partner calls out. When a behaviour is called out, the other partner writes down the appropriate abbreviation and the exact time it occurred. Our behaviour ethogram contains over 30 behaviours, their unique descriptions, and abbreviations for each. The focal data we collect also includes the individual’s position relative to the herd (moving within herd, following at rear, etc etc) and various other behaviour-related data. Each focal ends exactly 15 minutes after it has begun and is filed away for data entry. Each night we spend a few hours updating our data entry to keep on top of the work load. Whoever is cooking dinner or washing dishes is exempt from data entry that day.

At times our data collection can be very uneventful, Kohlewe, for example, has a tendency to fall asleep during the focal for fifteen solid minutes of “resting” behaviour. Other times the herd is on the move and the caller is scrambling along the roof of the vehicle or hanging out the back to keep her focal animal in view. At times like these the elephants are usually socializing a lot more, making body contact with one another, and displaying all sorts of behaviours. It is incredibly hectic and makes the waiting worth it every time. Three or four hours of waiting in the vehicle is completely worthwhile when the herd finally emerges and as a team we focal five or six animals.

Friday marked the second week I have been in Pongola, the third week I had been in South Africa (not including the travel). The days have been flying by and I have finally managed to stop taking over fifty pictures a day. The odd warthog or herd of Nyala, sadly enough, no longer phases any of us and the trips to and from the lake are almost completely continuous. A week ago Heike would pull the Ele-truck over for us to take pictures of all the wild and wonderful animals, or to pull out our binoculars to view a particular bird circling overhead. This experience has been amazing so far, accompanied with loads of pictures and fantastic stories. Only five more weeks to go, five more weeks...

I’m not crazy... it’s the Malaria Pills I swear! (June 30th and July 1st)

Yesterday morning when I awoke at 7:00am the last thing I wanted to do was haul myself out of bed to run laps around the camp... but perseverance got the best of me so I once again adorned my running shoes and headed outside. The workout yesterday morning was a huge improvement from the day before, in part by the fact that I decided not to take my malaria pill before starting my workout. I have followed the instructions on the malaria prescription quite adamantly and since it said nothing about exercising I figured I would be okay, which it was clearly not based on the symptoms I experienced. After exercising for the first time I was so light headed I could have possibly fainted, light colours were intense and blinding. But the second day of boot camp was a completely different story, it felt great to actually move my legs and after 15 minutes of running I did 15 more minutes of sit-ups and push-ups.

Now, since exercising whilst taking malaria pills, my knowledge of the side effects has expanded greatly... but I have yet to mention the other interesting effects of this medication. Sure, my liver and physical body have been completely protected from the wrath of the nasty mosquito (which I might add are nonexistent here because it is in fact winter...) but my mind has definitely not been. I am confident that I have not experienced vivid hallucinations, but at times, maybe even due to the sun, I swear I have spotted elephants within the thicket that aren’t actually there. During the day my mind is usually sound, but during the night the effects of the medication are released. And they are fantastic. Naturally, I tend to have quite vivid dreams and remember most of them, especially when I have high doses of sugar before I fall asleep. On a normal basis I may remember 2 or 3 dreams a week, or at least the remnants. But now, oh yes, I dream and remember every night and have yet to have a repeating dream. The most memorable dreams so far have included being transformed into a renowned dolphin trainer. Of course, the dream turned out to be terrible; the opening show was a disaster as our dolphins were too dumb to actually be trained. The night before I was attending a very classy party in dreamland that happened to take place in a huge mansion. The guest list included none other than Orlando Bloom, and yes, we were best friends, no big deal.

The malaria pill bottle also warns that they will make your skin more sensitive to the sun. This is another set-back as I am very pale and already susceptible to unpleasant burns and heat rash. Luckily, I have packed handy dandy 55 SPF for the very hot days, but so far 15 SPF has been sufficient in keeping my skin protected. I would also like to add that I have almost tanned enough to have a normal skin tone! My legs haven’t seen the sun for eight months and the extra vitamin D has been wonderful.

In terms of data collection yesterday we did quite poorly as the elephants we were focaling couldn’t manage to stay in view for the 15 minutes. We started out at 8:30am and made our way west to find Ngani and Kohlewe. We were only able to take a 30-minute scan sample and a partial focal. After watching them disappear into the acacia thicket we decided to head south to see the main herd. This also turned out to be a disappointment as we were unsuccessful in finding any elephants other than Ntini’s very large tail-end sticking slightly out into the open. We were back at camp by 5:00pm, made supper, and were informed that today (July 1^st) was a day off!! After dinner we decided to stay up extra late, to 11:00pm to be exact, and watch a movie. K had gone to bed early so the four of us piled onto one of the single beds and watched our first movie since arriving at the Loose Mongoose.

This morning I woke up around 8:30am to the sound of cawing birds that I can only describe as the sound of a squeaky swing. This sound is made by the something-breasted Franklin and wakes me up every morning between 6:00am and 7:00am to my distaste. The birds here have turned out to make the most incredible noises, the most amusing being the sound of the something-or-other bird that I can’t remember the name of. If anyone has ever seen the short film before Monsters Inc. it will be very easy to describe. In the flick there is a great number of short, fat, little birds, and one very tall stork like thing. Anyways, the sound that those short, fat birds make throughout the footage is exactly the same sound that manages to be created in the voice box of the birds here.  It cracks me up every time, especially because when you do hear it the birds make such a racket it sounds like they are all bickering.

My day off will most likely be spent sitting in the sun and reading my book (and blogging of course). It comes as a relief not to be rushed in the morning and I even had a chance to make a fully-loaded omelette (minus the cheese) for breakfast this morning. It is also Canada Day! Giving us a reason to have a celebration and have a few extra drinks with dinner. Canada is 144 years old today, which is incredibly young considering everyone else here is British, and well Europe has been in existence forever compared to Canada.

This may be the first blog in weeks that has caught up with me in terms of time; I have finally reached present time exactly. Since it is now ideal for me to bask in the sun until I am burnt to a crisp I will leave it at that and maybe even blog a little more this afternoon.