Dear All

My header is by Will Burrard-Lucas from Liuwa Plain. How beautiful is that!

BAN PLASTIC BAGSZNBC

A Livingstone based conservationist Benjamin Mibenge has urged government to consider coming up with a law to ban the use of plastic bags in Zambia.

Mr. Mibenge has told ZNBC news in Livingstone that plastic bags are the major contributor to refuse in the country. He says plastics are everywhere and that they are a serious mess because they can even last for over 100 years without decaying.

Mr. Mibenge says government must consider banning plastic bags and promote paper bags.

LIVINGSTONE

Livingstone-Sesheke RoadDaily Mail

Local authorities in Western Province have urged the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development to urgently rehabilitate the Livingstone-Sesheke road owing to its economic importance.

Sesheke district council chairperson Matokwani Musiwa said in an interview that the road should be worked on to enhance trade between Zambia and other Southern African countries.“The importance of the roads to the region cannot be over-emphasised as the road connects us with other countries. The copper that we are selling as a country is being transported through this same route,” he said.

G: As I have mentioned previously, not only is this road important for internal communications, it is also part of the Walvis Bay Corridor and so we have international obligations to keep it in good order.

Livingstone Anaimal Protection Society

So here are some photos from Day 2 of our outreach. .... We had an amazing day again and here are our totals:633 dogs, 2 kittens, 7 rabbits and 2 guinea pigs - a HUGE 644 animals!491 dogs vaccinated against rabies!130 dogs treated for various ailments & diseases - several follow up surgeries & treatments will be supported.

THANK YOU to all of those from the District Veterinary Offi ce who worked so hard, our LAPS team, who were just amazing and some incredibly dedicated volunteers who gave up their entire weekends to help. AND to the fantastic people who donated the funds to make this happen.

So as I’m sure you can imagine - we are absolutely broke now, so if anyone can support us with a little bit of dog food or kitten food (guess where the 2 kittens ended up) or a little bit of cash, we would be very very grateful.

Livingstone Business Directory

Due to popular demand I have printed an updated version of the Livingstone Business Directory.

At the moment it is being sold from the back of my car as I haven’t had the time to get it into the shops. Please give me a shout if you would like some or stop me on the road when I am in town! They will get out soon ... I promise ...

A Window on Zambia

I have put the link on the email so that you can all have a look at the website. It went completely squonk for a while, but I am slowly putting the pages back up. It is a totally different look as I am using a professional design.

I am reasonably happy with the result. Please give me feedback.

The plan ... well, the reason for doing the site is to answer all those basic questions which I have asked over the years and, because, whenever I wanted to travel anywhere, it took me hours to fi nd out all the information I needed.

I am not in competition with Zambia Tourism. Zambia Tourism has heaps to do; their website is only one component of their work. I am hoping that A Window on Zambia will add another avenue for potential visitors to explore.

Most of our tourists do a fl y-in/fl y-out manoeuvre. For them, the website gives them information on where they are going and what they are likely to see and will maybe urge them to extend their stay to see other areas of Zambia.

We do need, though, in Zambia to promote self-drive. Although self-drive do not tend to go to our luxury lodges, they do drive through the towns, stopping to buy supplies and petrol; they camp or stay at mid-market lodges. They visit all sorts of places our luxury visitors never get to see. And, of course, our Northern Circuit has to be largely dependent on self-drive. Self-drive visitors are great agents for marketing a country.

I know that tourism in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia was promoted by self-drive. Namibia’s self-drive is still a large component of their tourism arrivals. Botswana still gets plenty but because of their need to control the vast numbers visiting the parks, they have become much more expensive. Zimbabwe’s tourism is down because of the political situation in the country but tour operators there still manage to keep the past reputation alive through excellent marketing. (The fi gures shown by UNWTO are totally suspicious for Zimbabwe - they should be less than Zambia).

Zambia needs to show itself as a welcoming country and build its reputation as a good place to drive through. A Window on Zambia, hopefully, is going to do that. By promoting self-drive, as Zim, Bots and Nam have done in the past, all tour operators will gain and Zambia can take its place on the world stage like Botswana and Namibia.

There is quite a cost for me to keep the website up and running. I am hoping that operators around Zambia will help by placing adverts on the site. I already have a few. My daughter, Bernie, is on a mission to contact everyone.

Finally, as I have stated before, I need everyone in the regions to keep me updated so that the website remains relevant and correct. Thank you to everyone who has already commented – all have helped me get the right information.

ZAMBIA

Degazetting Part of Forest Reserve No. 27ZAMBIAN ECONOMY - LEADERSHIP, POLICY, STRATEGY & PROGRAMMES

The Republican President in August 2017 degazetted part of Forest Reserve No. 27 through SI 62 of 2017 which has been carved out for sale. We’ve seen the systematic deforestation of the city and interference of water catchment areas without regard for the future impact.60% of Lusaka’s water supply is from boreholes. Our city planners do not seem to know or care where the water to catch this water and replenish our aquifers comes from. The path of Ngwerere stream is being lined with concrete under the Millenium Challenge Account Lusaka drainage project, the dambo area at UNZA is seeing its share of concrete with Eastpark Mall and the gumtree area to the east of UNZA main entrance is earmarked for more concrete. Showgrounds area has concrete popping up too.Point at any housing development in Lusaka and rest assured there is a septic tank. I live within 1km of the Manchinchi Sewerage Treatment Plant but I have a septic tank. My neighbour has a borehole within 30m of this septic tank. Lusaka sits on limestone and we all know how easily it will allow toxins into the water table. Without green zones like the forest reserve we have no fi lter for our ground water. ...

G: It seems that this degazetting of part of the Forest Reserve, which I think is on Leopard’s Hill Road, has brought a lot of controversy on social media. Other residents are unhappy because it is a retreat for Lusaka folk to walk and relax. It provides green in a vast sea of concrete. I am sure the government is between a rock and a hard place. The call from Zambians for plots to build their own house must be huge. But ... surely this is a call for government to put a proper strategy in place; they need a 20-year plan for Lusaka’s development. The Zambia Environmental Management Agency has all the skills to develop a plan. At least ZEMA has the ability to look at water catchment and green spaces for the future of Lusaka and to see where suitable development should be located. People in towns do need homes but they also need to protect their environment and to have places free from development.

The map is one of the place I lived in UK. See how much green space there is between development ...

GRI - Zambia Primate Project

After 18 months of blood, sweat and tears today is the day we have all been working towards at ZPP. 22 vervet monkeys, each with their own tragic story of abuse at the hands of humans, are on the road to freedom - literally!!!!!!! Yesterday we trapped and crated up 22 monkeys that we had rescued and integrated into a troop over the past year and a half and loaded each onto the truck that would transfer them to our release site in Kafue National Park. The truck is on the road as we speak. We will bring you updates along the way as they acclimatise to the wild in a temporary holding enclosure we have built for them deep in the bush, as we carry out the predator avoidance training that will equip them to survive in the wild, and when the doors are opened and they are free at last.

DAVID SHEPHERD CBE 1931 – 2017

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd, FRSA, CBE, founder and president of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF). He died peacefully overnight after a 10 week fi ght in hospital with Parkinsons Disease.

For over 50 years David has dedicated his life to protecting some of the world’s most iconic and endangered animals. Using his talent as an artist to generate funds for their protection he inspired hundreds of others to follow and, in 1984, established his own wildlife foundation to give something back to the animals that had given him so much success as an artist.

Voted by a BBC poll as one of the most effective and popular small wildlife charities in Britain, DSWF is a fl exible non-bureaucratic NGO funding far reaching projects dedicated to the long-term conservation of critically endangered mammals in the wild, fi ghting wildlife crime through training and supporting the brave men and women on the front line, and engaging and benefi ting rural people who share their environment.

With a deep fondness for Africa’s elephants many of David’s most iconic paintings are of the world’s largest land mammal including ‘The Ivory is Theirs’ and ‘Wise Old Elephant’. ‘Tiger Fire’ was one of his fi rst major fund-raising successes, raising £127,000 for Indira Gandhi’s Operation Tiger in 1973. In 2014 he painted an elephant onto one of his palettes for his Foundation’s 30th Anniversary black tie dinner raising £50,000 for conservation projects in Africa and Asia.

Speaking at the time David said: “What more could an artist wish for but to repay my debt to the animals I painted.”

As well as his wildlife and landscape paintings, David is perhaps lesser known for his portraits, which include Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, HE Sheikh Zayed of Abu Dhabi and, the most signifi cant to him, his vast portrayal of ‘Christ on the Battlefi eld’. David was also passionate about steam locomotives, in the past owning two 120 ton steam giants and establishing a registered steam railway charity.

His life as an artist and conservationist featured in several TV programmes during the 70s, 80s & 90s including the BBC’s ‘Man Who Loves Giants’ (1972) and ‘This is Your Life’ (1990). His books include ‘David Shepherd, An Artist in Conservation’ (1992) and ‘Painting with David Shepherd’ (2004). His awards include an Honorary Degree in Fine Arts by the Pratt Institute in New York (1971), the Order of the Golden Ark by HRH The Prince of The Netherlands (1973), Member of Honour of WWF and OBE (1979), FRSA (1986), Order of Distinguished Service, Zambia (1988) and in June 2008 he was awarded a CBE for his services to conservation. In 2012 David was awarded the Conservation Award in the Wetnose Animal Aid Awards, followed by the True Englishman Award at the St George’s Day Club annual gathering in April that year. He was also invited to open Zambia’s fi rst elephant orphanage nursery at a ceremony offi ciated by Dr Guy Scott Vice-President of Zambia. Just last year David was awarded the Animal Hero Lifetime Achievement Award, receiving two standing ovations as he collected his award at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. In 2007 David helped establish the DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year competition which runs annually in London attracting artists from around the world generating funds to help save endangered wildlife. His Foundation’s Global Canvas art competition has also been inspiring young artists and conservationists since 2004 and his Foundation are launching an Art Ambassadors programme this November at Christies.

David felt motivated in his fi ght for wildlife and he was always determined to do more.

“David’s passion for wildlife and the role of man in its demise infuriated and inspired him. He was dedicated, tenacious and outspoken, a champion of animals and the people who worked to protect them. He will be greatly missed,” said DSWF CEO, Karen Botha.

He leaves a wife, four daughters, nine grandchildren and one great grandchild and an enduring legacy for wildlife conservation. His family are still very involved in the charity and his artistic talent lives on in his daughter, Mandy Shepherd and grand-daughter Emily Lamb who continue to paint to raise awareness and help DSWF fund conservation projects worldwide. He will be sadly missed by those he inspired and worked with.

For those wishing to make a donation to commemorate David’s life and to help DSWF continue to protect the wildlife that David loved, please call the Foundation Tel: 01483 272323 or click here Thank you.

To view more of David’s artwork funding conservation please click here

A book of condolences will be left in the DSWF offi ce reception in Shalford for those that would like to pay their respects. If you would like to send a message of condolences but are unable to make it to the offi ce please send an email to mandy.gale@davidshepherd.org

Gone, but Not Lost: Liuwa after SepoNorman Carr

It is with heavy hearts that we must once more announce the loss of an important lioness from the Liuwa Pride. Just weeks after the passing of the famous Lady Liuwa, her second in command Sepo has passed as well.

In the years following Sepo’s introduction to Liuwa Plain National Park, Lady and Sepo had managed to strike a delicate balance of power between themselves, with Lady contributing wisdom and Sepo contributing brawn. Together they had led the small but recovering Liuwa Pride to stability, giving hope to those working tirelessly to restore lions to the region.As one of the fi rst females translocated to Liuwa Plain, Sepo was named ‘hope’ in the local Lozi language. She lived up to that name, producing two beautiful litters of cubs – fi rst two females and a male in 2014, and then two males in 2016. A fi ercely protective mother, it is believed that Sepo died in a battle with the most recently relocated male when he tried to kill her cubs. This wasn’t the fi rst time they had clashed, having a violent throw down when he fi rst arrived. It may seem barbaric, this is actually normal behaviour for lions. Males want to eliminate the offspring of other males in order to replace them with their own, using their virility to establish themselves as the dominant male in the region.

Unfortunately, in her unending dedication to her cubs Sepo lost her life in a fi nal battle to protect them. But her efforts were not in vein. The most recent news coming out of Liuwa Plain indicates that not only are the two male cubs doing well under the care of their older sisters, but that one of the older sisters now has a cub of her own. So ‘hope’ may be gone, but hope is not lost. The Liuwa Pride will survive this loss, and continue to thrive in their ancestral land.

Liuwa Plain National Park

African Parks introduced approximately 70 Buffalo to Liuwa Plain National Park, a species extinct to the area prior to 2004. We are now proud to see the population has reached over 120 animals. Recently, we have noted a number of splinter groups moving into previously unoccupied areas. Zambian Carnivore Programme provided a great picture of a family group (1 male and 5 females) in the Miyanda Pools area, while our Field Operations Manager, photographed 6 bulls at Sausage Tree. We are excited to see the dispersal of these powerful animals throughout Liuwa.

Zambian Carnivore Programme

Chowo Pride Lioness 494 is alive and well today with her pride and 1 year old cub in Lower Lupande Game Management Area thanks to the collaborative de-snaring efforts of CSL, DNPW and ZCP. In 2013 she was lethally snared as a subadult but rescued and remains a key pride member. Photographs by Ben Goodheart and Stephen Cunliffe.

Camera Trap Project Conservation Lower Zambezi

CLZ received a generous grant from the International Elephant Fund and the Kansas City Zoo this month, to pilot a camera trap project in the Valley. Led by DNPW Ecolo-gist Howard Maimbo and accompanied by Kansas City Zoo volunteer Katie Muninger, two types of cameras and many different settings were trialed, following which a science based methodology was agreed upon and the camera traps were deployed. The aim of this project is to get baseline data on wildlife and to possibly complement DNPW/CLZs wildlife protection efforts in the LZNP and eastern Chiawa GMA. From the initial testing period we were thrilled to fi nd aardvark (pictured above) along with hyenas, porcupines, elephants, civets and more. We are excited to see what the next batch of pictures brings in...stay tuned!

Sioma NgweziElephant Connection

A recent aerial survey by DNPW had spotted a large herd in the park and on day two of our collaring operation we were happy to locate them again with the help of our team in the spotter aircraft, for which fl ight time was donated by Wildlife Crime Prevention https://www.facebook.com/wildlifecrimepreventionThe herd provided a beautiful sight from the air. Another female and male elephant were fi tted with satellite collars by the chopper team after which the elephants returned quickly to the herd.

Tusk Awards for African wildlife conservation announced

Two South Africans, a Malawian and a Zambian have won the prestigious 2017 Tusk Awards, presented to them at a ceremony attended by guests of honour, Nobel Peace Prize winners Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu and FW de Klerk, and former South African and Mozambican First Lady, Graca Machel, in Cape Town on October 4.

South African Rian Labuschagne, the former manager of Zakouma National Park in Chad, and currently working for the Frankfort Zoological Society in Tanzania’s Serengeti, was the winner of the Prince William Award for Conser-vation in Africa, 2017, a lifetime achievement award. He wins a grant of £40 000 towards his work, sponsored by Investec.Malawi’s Brighton Kumchedwa won the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa, 2017, an award given to an indi-vidual “judged to be emerging as a leading conservationist in recognition of their outstanding contribution to, and considerable success, in their chosen fi eld” and sponsored by Land Rover. Brighton is Director of Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife, and won a grant of £20 000.Lucky Ndlovu of South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Solomon Chidunuka of Zambia’s North Luangwa National Park were the joint winners of the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award sponsored by a private US Foundation with a grant of £10 000 each. This award gives international recognition to the men and women who face danger every day to protect Africa’s wildlife. Last year’s winner was Manuel Sacaia from Angola.

Golf Tournament

The war on poaching in the Victoria Falls region has been given a $24,972 boost by an annual fundraising golf tournament, coordinated, hosted and sponsored by Zimbabwean hospitality group Africa Albida Tourism.

A record fi eld of 164 players, making up 41 teams, teed off for charity at the 17th annual fundraising golf day for the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU) at Borrowdale Brooke Golf Club on September 22, before a prize-giving function and auction.

ZIMBABWE

The Tashinga Initiative

Preparation of the site at Mana Pools HQ for an Operations Centre, providing an enabling environment for Antipoaching Rangers who have had no offi ce to call “home”. TI consultant Willie Badenhorst behind his favourite instrument! Water reticulation challenges persist at Mana Pools HQ, village, lodges, public campsite and private campsites - Tashinga Initiative is working together with Robin Pope Safaris towards raising funds to address this vital requirement.

Painted Dog Conservation

The Somalisa pack was tracked and found at little Somabuhla pan south of Ngwelsha pan, with twelve pups in tow, the youngsters were nibbling at the remains of a steenbok. The alpha female of the pack was very attentive all the time as the pups rested in the shade. The pack is made up of twenty one dogs now and they are moving northwards, towards their traditional ranging area. At the same time the Nyamandhlovu pack, now a.k.a. Destiny have been around Dete vlei, Ivory and the Forestry place all week.They passed by our center thrice during this period, as Browny consolidates his dominance on the pack.The Hwange temperatures are at zenith, dust is swirling all around and cicadas are singing all day long. Elephants are moving in hordes, as are zebra, buffalo and wildebeest.

Victoria Falls Wildlife

While this photo may be graphic in nature, it does have a positive outcome. We had success last night with darting and removing a snare that was around the back and abdominal areas of this male lion. Luckily the wound was clean and hadn’t cut into the internal abdominal cavity. We would like to thank everyone at Matetsi Unit 1, PWMA, and ZPHGA for their assistance in this operation.

Donkey Meat Abattoir for BulawayoZimeye

A Bulawayo based company Battlefront Investments has started building a US$150 000 state-of-the-art donkey meat abattoir that will have capacity to dress more than 70 animals daily.

Zimbabwe’s fi rst such abattoir, in Waterford suburb, is expected online by monthend. Battlefront Investments MD Mr Gareth Lumsden said the company had already started buying donkeys for slaughter in the next three weeks. ...

The response:

AND LUPANE YOUTH FOR DEVELOPMENT TRUSTAWARE Trust Zimbabwe, SPANA, ZNSPCA, VAWZ and Lupane Youth for Development Trust

Joint Statement Against the First Proposed Donkey Abattoir in Zimbabwe.

It is with grave concern that the above organisations have learned about the proposed donkey abattoir in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe. We would like to highlight the possible socio-economic, animal welfare and environmental consequences that might result from such a venture, and enlighten the Zimbabwean public on the experience of other countries that have licensed donkey abattoirs in Africa. The main driver in the donkey parts trade is demand for their skins, which are processed into a luxury tonic ‘ejiao’, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine for everything from insomnia to impotence. It sells for the equivalent of 5,000 - 17,000 ZAR per kilo, depending on the product. According to FAOSTAT, China’s donkey population has fallen from 11 million in 1990 to six million in 2014, and according to The Donkey Sanctuary’s research, it may now be as low as three million and falling by about 300,000 per year.China is fast running out of donkeys to supply this industry, which processes a minimum of 1,8 million skins per year, and demand is forecast to easily reach10 million skins per year. Given that the global donkey population is only c. 44 million, this insatiable demand is simply not sustainable.Zimbabwe has an estimated population of 150,000 donkeys, spread over the communal areas where they are an integral part of community life. The proposed abattoir in Matabeleland has an ability to process 70 animals per day. If supply met demand, using 300 working days per year, the population of donkeys could be decreased by 21,000 donkeys per year. Donkeys are not suited as intensive production animals, since they have long gestation periods, high foal mortality, and slow foal development rates. Housed in unhabituated groups, donkeys suffer from a stress-induced condition called hyper-lipemia which can kill them. There currently is no ethically acceptable method of intensively farming donkeys, and the demandfor the skin trade far exceeds the rate at which they can be produced. ...

Elephants Without Borders

Kazangula Truck Stop... certainly has its issues, but some of that is about to change! The truck line waiting for the ferry crossing into Zambia can be as long as many kilometers while truckers wait for days for their turn, blocking pathways elephant herds use to access the river. But thanks to EWB’s ongoing monitoring program, identifying needed corridors, the regional government, spearheaded by Chobe District Counsel Chairman Chabaesele Paul Matshelane has agreed to work with the roads department opening a space for elephants to cross without hassle. ...

BOTSWANA

9 Elephants die in freak electrocution accidentAfrica Geographic

In a tragic accident, 9 elephants have died in a freak accident after being electrocuted by power lines near Sua Pan and a village called Dukwi in Botswana.

The elephants were drinking water from a leaking pipe that supplies water to the village. They knocked down an overhead power line, which fell into the pool of water and electrocuted the elephants. ...

Kwando Carnivore Project

Apart from the fi eld work, construction on lion-proof kraals is well underway. Thanks to the fi nancial support of National Geographic’s Big Cat Initiative we are able to expand our footprint to the eastern Chobe fl oodplains of the Zambezi Region. Although not often heard about, the confl ict with Botswana’s Chobe lions in Namibia can be very intense resulting in many cattle being killed by lions followed by the retaliatory killing of those lions. This is the fi rst step in mitigating this confl ict. In addition we are also constructing lion-proof kraals in the Mudumu Complexes with the fi nancial help of Nat Geo’s BCI, Panthera and WWF Germany. This effort has resulted in a 75% decline in incidents of human-lion confl ict. Thank you so much to our project partners for their support.

NAMIBIA

Bail DeniedThe Namibian

THE Katima Mulilo Magistrate’s Court yesterday denied bail to four men found in possession of eight elephant tusks, a fi rearm without a licence and entering Namibia at an undesignated point of entry.The four men – Sydney Malosi (29), Joseph Muyanbango (45), Rubata Mungawi (28) and Zambian national Kamiru Musehi (28) – were arrested last Thursday at Kongola.

They allegedly killed four elephants in Botswana and removed their tusks. The case was postponed to 23 November for further investigations and to allow the suspects to apply for legal aid.

Zambezi regional crime investigations coordinator, deputy commissioner Evans Simasiku told The Namibian yesterday that the arrest followed a tip-off from an informant.

‘No joke’ burying Henties whaleThe Namibian

VARIOUS departments of the Henties Bay municipality, led by the town’s traffi c chief Johannes Makina, worked hard yesterday (Tuesday) to dispose of the recently-stranded humpback whale.“This is no joke. This thing is massive, and it is starting to stink,” Makina told The Namibian during the removal proc-ess which involved manpower, a road grader as well as a bulldozer, amongst others.

A huge trench was dug away from the ocean, and further south of Henties Bay, in which the estimated 13-metre 20-tonne carcass was going to be buried.

Makina said while some people may be tempted to eat whale meat, it was too spoiled by the time it was being moved. A barrier would be put around the ‘grave’ to warn people off for safety and health reasons.

“This is the fi rst time that Henties Bay has endeavoured to bury such a big mammal. The dolphin project and the fi sheries ministry advised us that this was the best way to dispose of it,” he noted. ..

New EraBwabwata-About 107 hippos have been recorded dead as from October 2 to date in the Mahango area of Bwabwata National Park in Kavango East Region.

Offi cials in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) suspect the hippopotamuses are dying as a result of a lethal anthrax disease and have dispatched state veterinarians to the area to assess for and confi rm the prevalence of the disease.

Two of the hippos were discovered dead in the Kavango River outside the park. New Era toured the park on Satur-day with the help of park warden Jonas Hausiku and one could see hippo carcasses scattered by the river in the park and over streams of stagnant water that link with the river.

“This is a situation that we have seen before. It happened in Zambia before and it mainly occurs when the level of the river is so low… Our scientist will advise properly, but we suspect it is anthrax.“This is a natural cause and with the animals dying people should not panic, as it won’t negatively affect tourism in the area,” said Colgar Sikopo the director of parks and wildlife management in the MET. ...

‎Namibian Nature Conservation‎

KAZA-TFCA Angola looking spiff in their new uniforms...with Roland Goetz and Mark Paxton. They are busy with an arieal census of the Angolan KAZA area, fl ying from Divundu, overnighting at Mucusso

EXCHANGE RATES

US$1 K9.65

P10.36

Nam$13.65

WEATHER

Min Temp Max Temp

22°C (72) 39°C (102)

Have a good two weeks

Gill

Kwando Carnivore Project

This leopard decided to take a bite out of the camera once it had fi nished examining it. Biting cameras is the self appointed role of spotted hyaenas and quite unusual leopard behaviour. I always see the loss of a camera in this manner as a bonus because of the resulting photographs.

A SMILE

The weather has been really weird in the past week ... we have had rain ... It has come up from the south which is very unusual for us ...