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Well it's started to rain...I will never complain about it being hot again! Because there isn't much cloud coverage here none of the heat stays. I might as well be in England right now!
Rain all day does not help with data, especially when doing AB's when you have to have to write down everything the subject elephant for 2 hours. The paper was so soggy I nearly ruined all my data by putting the pen through it all. I missed 15mins of Thato's AB as I had to run back to the bunkhouse to get some dry paper and better protection from the rain.
With rain though also brings swimming elephants! For some reason when it rains the elephants run towards the dam and go for a swim. It's mainly the little ones plus Keisha. Thandi has a good go as well, 'diving' straight in and thrashing her trunk around so it makes splashes and waved. It's like you're watching kids playing around, they even try to dunk each other. A pig escaped from next doors' farm which Keisha went trumpeting towards, ear out, tail up. I've never seen her run so fast. Was so funny!
We all went out to Surf Cafe again with Joan and the two Brazilian girls. It was a lot more chilled out and unfortunately there wasn't the fit singer. He was instead replaced by an old looking pirate who we couldn't understand. It was still good fun and nice to get out of the park, as lovely as it is.
On Thursday the rain didn't let up at all. All field work was cancelled. The elephants didn't even want to go out this morning. They got to the door and turned round running back to their pens! I felt their pain; it's so horrible out there. Wind and rain are never a fun combination. We all spent most of the days in our beds trying to get warm....it's SOUTH AFRICA! It's meant to be extremely hot ALL the time.
The only thing we did do that was useful was make the enrichment balls again. Charlotte and I braved the weather to get the bonna grass (very long thick grass). There was a huge spider and a massive nest. Freaked me out a tad especially when I was constantly expecting a snake to slither out and bite me. It's not grown in the most open area.
Friday still brought more rain but there was a lot more exciting as Clyde and Shaka had to have their jabs of GNrH. They were put in the crush, which is basically a skinny pen, so they couldn't move and get the injection in the wrong place. It was awesome to get so close to Shaka and Clyde as they're not in the herd, on their own in their little area, so don't see them or have much to do with them. Charlotte and I got to feed Shaka. They were put under sedation and were trying so hard not to go to sleep. Was very evident when it did work as Clyde started snoring! They had blood taken from their ear. They have so many veins behind their big, flappy ears. They had their jab in their bottom and apparently were walking around all floppy for a few hours after not having a clue where they were....bless them!
The rest of the day (half day) was spent filling hay bags. The hay barrels were packed so tightly together the boma guys had to help us get it the right way up. It took 3 of them. I don't know how they expected 2 girls to do it! After, there was a guy from an agency who advertises KEP research. He came to update their website, which is definitely a good thing as Luisa and Rafa came through them and they had no clue what they were getting into. He nearly broke his camera before he began though. He was wearing crocs which aren't the most grippy of shoes so he kinda fell flat on his face....was quite funny!
Shopping day again! It was only Charlotte and I that went as Abi had to stay behind to keep observations on Clyde and Shaka. I managed to buy two pairs of shoes...only £5 each, couldn't resist! I also stuffed my face with a chocolate chip muffin, felt so sick. I couldn't do anything for the rest of the day, couldn't manage dinner!
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