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My wake up walk with with Laili and Lewa to get me started for the day.
It's a good thing I had a big breakfast as my morning activities were not pretty. Starting with the breeding program enclosure cleaning before heading up to the butchery for more meat prepping for the 7 big boy lions feed. I couldn't wait to get the gloves on and start carving. Still getting used to the smell but not so overpowering as the day before as I knew what I was in for. A little disappointed that we didn't actually need to carve anything up but instead dragged several bags of intestines, organs, stomach, foetus' just to name some of the delights.
Emptying the contents into a mountain at the far end of the big boys enclosure to soon watch the them show their speed and dominance over each other.
In a bizarre fascination of all the gory bits we try to identify the parts before getting enthralled with a foetal sack complete with foetus still inside. All of us curious of what the foetus was, I'm given an axe to open the sack - bizarre enjoyment and fascination. Cutting carefully (I didn't want any goo splashing out) and here's this poor little calf mostly developed with eyelashes, little tongue, it's thin little tail and only covered by a thin layer of pinky/red smooth silky flesh, it hadn't developed its hide yet. I'm not sure how far long it would have been. I picked it up by its back hooves and held it up like a prize fish. Writing this makes me think how sad for the little calf and the mother cow and how gruesome it was yet we were all intrigued. This will be a prize meal for one of the lions.
It is comforting to know that the cows, horses, chickens, pigs and what ever else is in the butchery has died by disease or natural causes, they are not killed for the sole purpose of feeding the lions.
Back to the excitement of seeing the lions being fed. Wow, watching the boys pace in anticipation in their management enclosure, the race was on as soon as the gate was opened and in a cloud of dust, 7 big male lions come running (not quite full speed but close) straight towards you to be the king of the feed. We were only sitting about 2 metres from their prize and as they sprint and maneuver to get their meal. It's not long before the little calf is snatched up and whisked away. Two of the boys lay over the mound asserting their dominance and waiting to out last the other, growling at each other and sneaking nibbles when there is a chance.
With a great suggestion from Gillian, another volunteer, I collect a couple of bones from lunch and begin my next toy extravaganza - chop tree! With the cow and horse hair I gathered while on poo patrol, I tied the bones to a leafy branch and wrapped grass around it to make it a little more exciting.
Waving the branch in front of Penya to get her attention, and getting her up on the platform we had a game of tug of war as she swiped to get better grip (unfair advantage with those claws and paws), I soon let her win and it wasn't long before she was munching on her bone. Paza came and joined us as I dangled the other bone for a brief play. Now not interested in us at all and time for a cub nap!
Paza and Penya started off slowly on our afternoon walk but once we arrived at their favorite boulders when they soon started their games of hide and seek, chasey and jumping over each other - they are just adorable.
- comments
Joanne Wow - l would have vomitted !!!
robbie never in a million years would I do this, shaz....anyway please be careful..
Chris Willis Sounds fantastic Shaz, your a girl after my own heart & stomach :)..I took Charlie back to amanda thic morning & called in & saw your boy's for a while, fed them, then left some more bikkie's out as I'm not staying there, got too much to do here. The boys look good but i do feel for Murphy with that front leg, I used the tarp that was under the house and another blanket to make a tent right around and over their beds, so they have a snug cave to sleep in on their beds. I will go back over tomorrow morning & feed them again. same Monday morning. Selah has gone away for the long weekend, comes back Monday arvo. Well i think that if you didn't have the boy's you would live in Africa, so I reckon you should sell your house buy a small unit, rent it out and spend your time doing what you are doing, that is of course if you can get paid for it :) ....Keep enjoying life Shaz, we only live once and you will have so-ooooo many wonderful memories Cheers for now Love Chris xoxo
Chris Willis Ps: the boys can get to their beds easily, it's not closed in at the front, just in case your were thinking they couldn't
Chris Willis As you may be able to tell, Shaz I have only just started reading your blog, it's fantastic and a great read, and such a good tool for the memory bank, I'm envious, if I ever win money I want to do this, it brings back memories of when I was in Nigeria, no lion's or Ellies there but, i do remember going to an abattoir & watching a cow being slaughtered, no prep work, just head back & sharp knife across the throat, I was 13 & still remember it, I was a bit shocked but fascinated. Keep up the reports, they are great. xoxo