WILDCLIFF WEEKEND 1 MAY 2009.

WILDCLIFF WEEKEND 1 MAY 2009.

Barbara and I had a busy schedule on the Thursday 30th April. Ally had sport and I was busy at work so we were only able to leave town at 17.30. We did our grocery shopping, I bought Ally a DVD series to watch in the car as we traveled. The road out of PE was not too busy but as we passed Mossel Bay the traffic became quite heavy. On the way to Wildcliff we made just one stop at the Mossel Bay garage where we bought toasted sandwiches and coffee. I ordered too much and we ended up being stuffed and having left overs which I put the the fridge for the next day.

As we approached Heidelberg we phoned Niccy and they told us that they were just approaching WC from the Tradouw pass when they came across a young man who had had an accident in his car. His car was literally wrapped around a tree. He had driven onto the dirt road at speed, lost control and that was the end of his car. Stefan helped him load his stuff in to their car and drove him the last few kays to Heidelberg. The police were quite helpful and they left him there to sort out his trip to visit his parents in Oudtshoorn.

On the dirt road approaching WC, on the section of the road that leads up to Bob Brown's farm, going past the stone wall on the right; we came across a porcupine. (see below for more information). I think that this is the first time that Barbara & I have ever seen a Porcupine in the wild. We did not have a camera. Barbara tried to photograph the animal with her phone, but the result was not good. Also it was 23.30 and we had the lights of the car to capture an image.

We arrived at WC just before midnight. Stefan and Nicci had only been there a short while. We sat chatting and then fell into bed.

Friday morning: Stefan and I had planned to go for a walk but the children also wanted to have an outing so we gathered them together and walked up to the Rain Frog Dam. Paula, Abigail and Bryce joined us. The children all became saturated as they played in the water. We had a little picnic with some biscuits and fruit. We took a variety of routes home. Stefan, Zara, Aaron and I took the road to above the houses and then took a short cut across the Fynbos. Interesting to see how well the two little ones coped with the prickly bush.

Back at the house I had arranged for the DSTV to be turned on but as the baboons had messed around with the aerial I had to climb onto the roof and try to adjust the dish. I did some back and forth for quite a while. Then I took my Leatherman and reconnected the wire leading to the LNB. Finally we managed to get it working. Stefan down in the lounge and me on the roof as he called instructions to me through the chimney. The rest of the day was a little overcast with rain and we did not do much more than read, eat and sleep. Stefan made us a pooitjie supper which turned out to be quite delicious.

Saturday morning; Stefan and I saddled up and went for a walk down to the meadow. We followed the Wilderkranz stream in a Southerly direction. The wood cutters had been working hard to clear the wattle. We followed the area that had been partially cleared. Some of the trees are cut and others have been ring barked. Unfortunately the felling of trees has, in some sections of the river, caused blockage and we are quite concerned as to what the consequences will be in the event of heavy rainfalls.

At times we had to do a bit of climbing over branches but staying with the stream we finally reached the Meadows of the neighbouring farm. I had been here once before with Ian, approaching from the Plattekloof side. We could see that the clearing of Wattle from the side of the power lines would reach the Wilderkranz stream. This will take some time. As we walked we saw two separate bushbuck.(see below for information) On the side of the Plattekloof we could see the spoor as this ram had gone down to drink and we saw him fairly close to us as he ran up and away from us. We made our way down to the Plattekloof stream and walked upstream for about an hour. We took our time looking at the spoor and surrounds. We even saw a few tiny fish in the stream. Before we reached the start of the Peter Kloof we turned up the hill and walked over to the Kaolin (See below for Kaolin information) mine and dam. We had to clamber over wattle branches to the extent that we were over a meter above the ground. As we walked up we came across some bulbous looking plants. Almost like Gladioli.

The wattle clearing on this side has been quite substantial. From here we walked back down to the house for a cup of tea. We loaded the little children and Abigail into the bushpig and took a slow drive up to the Ena's Falls. This was the first time that I had driven the vehicle and it took a little while to get used to the feel of the steering. It was a good experience to drive a 4X4 for the first time. We had a look a the site where the mountain hut is due to be built. We then went over to the top and walked along the spiky protea road. We picked ourselves a few of these unique flowers. They really do not look that good once they are a few days old. The children loved the outing and then back at Talari we all walked down to the Oak Tree Meadow where we played in the stream with the children.

As I walked up back to the house I did a little detour past the Poplar Trees and was really quite sad to see what we had thought to be the case as we looked from the house: the trees have been killed off with ring barking. They never appeared to me to be a real threat to the environment. I hope that we are going to spare the Oak Trees. That evening we watched some Rugby with Paula, Keith and Hanna. We had a bit of a marathon session of super 14 rugby watching nearly three games in succession. We had some delicious roast chicken for supper. It was late when we finally made it to bed.

Sunday morning was spent cleaning and packing and we left for home at around 10.30am. Paula was off to Barrydale to collect a Caracal (see below for more on the Caracal) that had been caught and which she later released up in the pines on the fynbos road. We had an easy drive home with just one stop in Knysna to fill up with petrol. The protea that we had cut were full of bugs and miggies. But I put them in water and left them outside for the night. Then next day the spiky protea that had new buds had opened and they looked stunning.

Email from Paula:
Dear Ian, Jenny, & Peter,


Please welcome our newest Wildcliff member, Rosa, the rooikat.


I received a call from Nola Frazer asking if we would take a large female caracal. Peter was certain you both would agree to our taking her, so Hanna, Abigail & I went to pick her up yesterday. She was taking some farmer's geese and had been trapped and taken to the Frazer's. Unfortunately, she sustained some injuries around her face/eyes from the farmer's trap, but nothing serious. Peter darted her around 3:30 pm so that she could be released at dusk. She must have been sensitive to the Ketamine as she didn't wake till almost 8:30 pm. We waited with her in the Pine Hill area and were hoping for some great video footage of her release, but it was too dark (and she was groggy). This isn't a good photo of her, but she is beautiful. We wished her well and hope she'll make Wildcliff her home.


Paula







Rosa






Peter Giddy
5.5.2009.

CARACAL







Appearance
A large, rufous-fawn Cat with tufted black ears, creamy underbelly with faded orange spots, and long legs. The face has exquisite markings. This animal must be regarded as one of the most beautiful Cats in the world. The Caracal moves with grace and a sense of confident power. It is an expert climber and regularly takes refuge in trees. Melanistic or all black Caracal have also been reported.
Diet
In hunting, the Caracal is mainly nocturnal, but will also use the twilight hours to search out its prey. Diurnal activity has also been observed, specially in the hunting of bird. For its size the Caracal is strong and fast, and as well as taking smaller prey such as Jerboas, Sand Rat, Ground Squirrel and Rock Hyrax, it can also bring down the larger Reedbuck and Duiker.This Cat is able, from a sitting position, to launch 4-5 metres in the air by using its strong hind quarters and limbs. They do this to pluck flying bird prey from the air.
Breeding
In most parts of its range the Caracal has no set breeding period and a female may often mate with up to three males. The litter size varies between 1-6 kittens, which are born after a gestation period of approximately 78 days. The kittens have a daily weight gain of approximately 21g per day and although they reach maturity at about 16-18 months of age they are often independent from about 12 months.
Behaviour
Mostly nocturnal, secretive, solitary, and an aggressive animal. Due to being hunted as a problem animal by farmers, Caracal became even more elusive and thus a sighting of one is very difficult.
Habitat
The Cat is found in dry savannah and woodland areas, scrubland and rugged terrain in mountainous regions, where it is known to live as high as up as 3000 metres. Like other Cats found in dry, arid or semi-dessert locations, the Caracal can survive for long periods without water, instead obtaining its requirement form the metabolic moisture of its prey.
Where they are found
It occurs throughout South Africa, and prefers open areas in woodland savannahs as well as rocky, hilly areas.
Vital Statistics
Latin Name : Felis Caracal
Weight (Female) : 11 kg
Weight (Male) : 15 kg
Length (Female) : 109 cm
Length (Male) : 117 cm
Gestation Period : 117 cm
No of Young : 2 - 4 (sometimes 5)
Order : Carnivora
Family : Felidae
Breeding : 2 - 4 (occasionally 5) young are born from October - March after a gestation period of ± 2 months.
Description
Compared to those of the serval, the footprints of the Caracal are broader and the indentation at the front of the intermediate pads are more prominent.
Spoor Description
Compared to those of the serval, the footprints of the Caracal are broader and the indentation at the front of the intermediate pads are more prominent.


PORCUPINE





Appearance
Both the male and female African Porcupines weigh from 18 to 30 kg (about 40 to 60 pounds) and are about two feet long. The African Porcupine is a type of Rodent that has long sharp spines, up to 50cm long, which cover its whole back and can be raised by muscles under the skin. Although it is similar in appearance to the Echidna it is not closely related.

The Echidna, also known as the spiny Anteater, is a type of Monotreme that is covered in stiff, sharp spines mixed with long, coarse hairs. Like the Echidna, the African Porcupine has a browny black coat and paler-coloured spines. The African Porcupine is twice the length of the Echidna (80.0 cm vs 47.5 cm).

African Porcupines are the largest rodent in their region. Females are, on average, about one kilogram heavier than males and both sexes are larger than half a meter long. They are also long-lived for rodents, surviving 12 to 15 years in the wild. These porcupines are covered with flat, bristly hairs and have quills and spines on the posterior back and flanks.

The difference between quills and spines is largely one of length and thickness, with spines up to 50 cm long and quills up to 30 cm long. The white and black crest of spines and quills can be erected at will to make the animal look enormous and threatening. Some spines on the tail are hollow and make a rattling sound when shaken. The very sharp spines and quills come off when touched by a predator or shaken off, but they grow back rapidly. African porcupines also have very long mobile whiskers.
Diet
African porcupines are mostly vegetarian, using their strong digging claws to get roots, tubers, and bulbs. They are also fond of fallen fruits and will sometimes gnaw on bark. Their anterior large intestine and enlarged appendix contain microorganisms that break down undigested plant fibers. They have also been reported to eat carrion in some instances. In areas deficient in phosphorous they practice osteophagia, or gnawing on bones. These porcupines will often accumulate large piles of bones in their dens.
Breeding
Male porcupines reach sexual maturity between eight and eighteen months, while females reach sexual maturity between nine and sixteen months. Because of their dangerous anatomy, females initiate copulation by presenting to the males.

Gestation lasts for three months. The young are born in litters of one to four into a grass-lined chamber in the parents' den during the wet months of August to March. The average litter size is 1 and the average newborn mass is 311g.

Young are born relatively well-developed, with their eyes open and teeth present. They have soft quills and spines at birth, most likely to ease the birthing process but they quickly harden in the air. The young grow rapidly, reaching full size in about a year. They nurse for three to four months at which point they will weigh four to five kilograms. After the weaning of their young, female porcupines can not conceive for another three to five months.
Behaviour
When the porcupine is tired, it grunts and raises it's black and white quills. There is one case of a leopard almost killed by a porcupine. Porcupines travel alone or in small family groups. They normally they sleep in the day and feed at night. The African Porcupine is primarily nocturnal, although it may be seen during the day.

They have quite acute hearing and will freeze when approached by predators, such as big cats, large predatory birds, or hyaenas. When cornered, these porcupines can be aggressive, runnning sideways or backwards to embed their sharp quills in an attacker.

Contrary to myth, they can not throw their quills, but they may become dislodged when they shake their hollow rattling quills. Another defensive behavior is to hide in their holes facing in and erect their spines so that they can not be dislodged. Specially modified quills known as rattle quills add to the noise made when shaken.

PORCUPINE



Habitat
African Porcupines are found from sea level to 2000 m above sea level in most areas with vegetation. They prefer rocky hills and outcrops, as they must have shelter during the day. They often take shelter in caves or antbear holes. They also build dens which can be up to 20m long with a 2m deep living chamber.
Where they are found
They live in North Africa, South Africa and East Africa.
Latin name
Hystrix africaeaustralis.
Vital Statistics
Latin Name : Hystrix Africaeaustralis
Weight (Female) : 10 - 24 kg
Weight (Male) : 10 - 19 kg
Length (Female) : 84 cm
Length (Male) : 84 cm
Gestation Period : 7 weeks
No of Young : 1 - 4
Birth Weight : 315 g
Order : Rodentia
Family : Hystricidae
Breeding : 1 - 3 young are born anytime during the year (summer rainfall areas, August - March) after a gestation period of about 3 months.
Description
5 toes on the front feet, the first toe being reduced to a small stump without a claw. Other toes have well developed claws. 5 toes on the hind-feet, each with a claw. The fore- and hind-feet each show 3 intermediate pads and 2 proximal pads in the spoor.
Spoor Description
5 toes on the front feet, the first toe being reduced to a small stump without a claw. Other toes have well developed claws. 5 toes on the hind-feet, each with a claw. The fore- and hind-feet each show 3 intermediate pads and 2 proximal pads in the spoor.



BUSHBUCK



Appearance
The very sharp horns render the Bushbuck very dangerous when wounded. A close relative of the Kudu and the Nyala. The rams are very elegant in appearance, sporting dark greyish-brown fur, with white spots on the flanks and prominent white socks. In height they are 700mm at the shoulders, and have a maximum mass of 54 Kg's.
Ewes are smaller and adult ewes are lighter in colour than rams, with more pronounced white spots and stripes. Both males and females have geometrically shaped white patches or spots on the most mobile parts of their body, namely the ears, chin, tail, legs and neck, as well as a band of white at the base of the neck. On males these markings become more visible during their displays when they arch their backs and slowly circle one another, walking in a tense, high-stepping gait. These highly ritualized displays usually make fighting unnecessary. Alongside this, a rigid age-based hierarchy among keeps males in check.
Diet
Bushbuck are mainly browsers, but on rare occasions will consume grass. They are selective feeders, but during hardship are able to adapt their feeding habits for the sake of survival.
Breeding
With a gestation period of 6 to 7 months some females are able to reproduce twice a year. The birth peak is generally during the rainy season in dry regions, but in high-rainfall areas there are not really any peaks. After giving birth, the mother cleans the newborn calf and eats the placenta.

The young calf does not accompany its mother for long periods during the day until it is about 4 months old and so it must leave the calf well hidden. When she visits and suckles it, she even eats its dung to remove any scent that remains which may attract predators. Ewes reach sexual maturity at 14 months. Even though rams reach sexual maturity at 11 months they generally do not mate until socially adept at the age of three years.
Behaviour
Usually most active during early morning and part of the night, Bushbucks become almost entirely nocturnal in areas where they are apt to be disturbed frequently during the day. When alarmed, individuals react in a variety of ways. Sometimes they will sink to the ground and lie flat, or they may bound away, making a series of hoarse barks.

When surprised in the open, they sometimes stand still or slowly walk to the nearest cover. The Bushbuck is primarily nocturnal, but it is also fairly active during the day. Half of a Bushbuck's day is spent standing and grazing. Around dusk bushbucks move toward their night range where they feed before moving off at dawn.

The Bushbuck is also the only non-territorial and solitary African antelope with neither males nor females defending any part of their home range. Though Bushbuck have small home ranges which may overlap with those of other bushbuck, they are solitary animals with even females prefering to keep social interactions with their young to not more than a few hours a day. Mature males usually go out of their way to avoid contact with each other.
Habitat
Bushbuck’s preferred habitat is dense bush at the base of mountains or along river courses. This antelope is always found close to permanent water courses.
Where they are found
The shy and elusive bushbuck is widely distributed over sub-Saharan Africa. In East Africa it is found in a variety of habitats, though rarely on open land. Bushbucks have a lot of individual and regional differences in their coat colours and patterns. In general, Bushbuck inhabiting deep forest have darker coats. They will live anywhere from sea level to mountaintops, from rainforests to subdesert terrain.
Predators
Bushbucks are most vulnerable to predators such as Leopard, Lions, Hyenas and Cheetah when on the run, but if cornered the male will fight bravely and if attacked may even become a dangerous foe. Even though Baboons sometimes eat the young, Bushbucks continue to associate closely with them at times, picking up fallen fruit and other foods that foraging Baboons drop.
Latin name
Tragelaphus scriptus
Vital Statistics
Latin Name : Tragelaphus Scriptus
Weight (Female) : 30 - 36 kg
Weight (Male) : 40 - 77 kg
Gestation Period : 6 months
No of Young : 1 lamb
Sexual Maturity : 11 - 14 months
Birth Weight : 4 kg
Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Bovidae
Horns : 40 cm
Breeding : A single young is born anytime during the year after a gestation period of about 6 months.
Description
4 - 5 cm long. Neater and smaller than the Impala.
Spoor Description
4 - 5 cm long. Neater and smaller than the Impala.

Kaolinite is a clay mineral with the chemical composition Al2Si2O5(OH)4. It is a layered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet of alumina octahedra.[3] Rocks that are rich in kaolinite are known as china clay or kaolin.
The name is derived from Gaoling or Kao-Ling ("High Hill") in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China.[4] Kaolinite was first described as a mineral species in 1867 for an occurrence in the Jari River basin of Brazil.[5]
Kaolinite has a low shrink-swell capacity and a low cation exchange capacity (1-15 meq/100g.) It is a soft, earthy, usually white mineral (dioctahedral phyllosilicate clay), produced by the chemical weathering of aluminium silicate minerals like feldspar. In many parts of the world, it is colored pink-orange-red by iron oxide, giving it a distinct rust hue. Lighter concentrations yield white, yellow or light orange colours.
Kaolin is used in ceramics, medicine, coated paper, as a food additive, in toothpaste, as a light diffusing material in white incandescent light bulbs, and in cosmetics. It is generally the main component in porcelain.
It is also used in paint to extend titanium dioxide (TiO2) and modify gloss levels; in rubber for semi-reinforcing properties and in adhesives to modify rheology.[6]
The largest use is in the production of paper, including ensuring the gloss on some grades of paper. Commercial grades of kaolin are supplied and transported as dry powder, semi-dry noodle or as liquid slurry.
A more recent, and more limited, use is as a specially formulated spray applied to especially organic fruits, vegetables, and other vegetation to repel or deter insect damage, and at least in the case of apples, to prevent sun scald. A traditional use is to soothe an upset stomach, similar to the way parrots (and later, humans) in South America originally used it.[7]
Kaolin is or has been used as the active substance in liquid anti-diarrhea medicines such as Kaomagma and Kaopectate . Such medicines were changed away from aluminium substances due to a scare over Alzheimer's disease, but have since changed back to compounds containing aluminium as they are most effective.
In April 2008, the Naval Medical Research Center announced the successful use of a Kaolinite-derived aluminosilicate nanoparticles infusion in traditional gauze known commercially as QuikClot Combat Gauze.[8] [9]







Kaolin is used in ceramics, medicine, coated paper, as a food additive, in toothpaste, as a light diffusing material in white incandescent light bulbs, and in cosmetics. It is generally the main component in porcelain.

It is also used in paint to extend titanium dioxide (TiO2) and modify gloss levels; in rubber for semi-reinforcing properties and in adhesives to modify rheology.[6]

The largest use is in the production of paper, including ensuring the gloss on some grades of paper. Commercial grades of kaolin are supplied and transported as dry powder, semi-dry noodle or as liquid slurry.

A more recent, and more limited, use is as a specially formulated spray applied to especially organic fruits, vegetables, and other vegetation to repel or deter insect damage, and at least in the case of apples, to prevent sun scald. A traditional use is to soothe an upset stomach, similar to the way parrots (and later, humans) in South America originally used it.[7]

Kaolin is or has been used as the active substance in liquid anti-diarrhea medicines such as Kaomagma and Kaopectate . Such medicines were changed away from aluminium substances due to a scare over Alzheimer's disease, but have since changed back to compounds containing aluminium as they are most effective.

In April 2008, the Naval Medical Research Center announced the successful use of a Kaolinite-derived aluminosilicate nanoparticles infusion in traditional gauze known commercially as QuikClot Combat Gauze.[8] [9]