FOR MEMBERSHIP & GENERAL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT THEUNS EKSTEEN AT Hot off the Press!!

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1 granaat NEWSLETTER March / April 2011 FOR MEMBERSHIP & GENERAL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT THEUNS EKSTEEN AT Hot off the Press!! NQWEBA DAM REACHES SECOND HIGHEST LEVEL IN 37 YEARS! In our previous issue, it was reported that the water level of Nqweba Dam was at 49%. Within a matter of days it more than doubled (to 118%), as a result of heavy rains to the north of Graaff-Reinet, sending torrents of water down the Pienaar s, Gats and Sunday s Rivers. There were reports of farm dams disintegrating during the heavy deluge and of course all this mud came straight down to Graaff-Reinet, forcing the Municipality to switch over to its emergency water supply, namely boreholes, until the sediment in the dam s water had settled. The town was in awe of the mass of water thundering over the dam wall and residents spent the better part of the weekend of 12 th & 13 th February 2011 marvelling at the sight. Strings of cars lined both sides of the Murraysburg road, causing some mini snarl-ups at times. This is the second time in two years that we have had the privilege of seeing Nqweba Dam overflowing, preceded by a very dry spell of several years. This time round, a full 2 months later, the Sunday s River is still running and the dam overflowing. Let s hope that the riverbed, now that it has received a good flush, will be cleared of the surviving alien & invasive vegetation and properly maintained in future. Our part of the world is looking green and lush; the veld has been beautifully restored in areas that had suffered years of severe drought. I m just wondering if and when someone is going to grab the opportunity of initiating a Job Creation Project by setting up a barge and dredging all the silt that has accumulated over so many decades. Thar could be gold in them muddy hills, matey! 1 P a g e

Photo taken on 13/02/2011 Features SAVANNAH, OF THE TIGER CANYONS PRIDE Most of you have probably heard of John Varty s Tiger Project close to Phillipolis in the Northern Cape.

The necessary infrastructure was installed, followed by the costly relocation of captive-bred tigers to Tiger Canyons, with its diverse habitat suitable for tiger rehabilitation, research and

2 Photo taken on 13/02/2011 Features SAVANNAH, OF THE TIGER CANYONS PRIDE Most of you have probably heard of John Varty s Tiger Project close to Phillipolis in the Northern Cape. Tiger Canyons was established approximately 10 years ago when 61,000 ha of stock farmland was obtained and converted back to a natural sanctuary for wildlife. The necessary infrastructure was installed, followed by the costly relocation of captive-bred tigers to Tiger Canyons, with its diverse habitat suitable for tiger rehabilitation, research and breeding programmes. Savannah, the only lion at Tiger Canyons, was born in November 2006 and raised by the tigress Julie. The two eventually became exceptionally good hunters and working together as a pair they were a force to be reckoned with, felling and killing more than 80 prey within a 24- month period. Julie with Savannah as a cub (Sunette Fourie) Savannah gradually started taking care of Julie s cubs and even helped carry them to new dens when their mother felt the need to move them to a safer place. Then disaster struck. On 23 rd January 2011, the skies opened up and within 36 hours 300mm of torrential rain had fallen over the plains and valleys of Tiger 2 P a g e

Canyons, causing severe flood damage and total devastation within the reserve. Electrified fences were swept away; gates, bridges and other infrastructure simply vanished under the deluge of water.

A team of dedicated helpers risked their lives to go out and find the distraught animals, dart and cage them and then transport them to temporary enclosures.

Savannah, in her prime You can read more about this unique relationship between tigress and lioness and Savannah s role as Aunty to Julie s cubs on the following link : Some of the darted tigers

3 Canyons, causing severe flood damage and total devastation within the reserve. Electrified fences were swept away; gates, bridges and other infrastructure simply vanished under the deluge of water. Confused and afraid, 12 tigers escaped from their camps and instinctively started fighting one another for survival. A team of dedicated helpers risked their lives to go out and find the distraught animals, dart and cage them and then transport them to temporary enclosures. Sadly Savannah could not be saved and died of her injuries the next morning. John Varty had known her since she was 6 days old. Savannah, in her prime You can read more about this unique relationship between tigress and lioness and Savannah s role as Aunty to Julie s cubs on the following link : Some of the darted tigers after the floods at Tiger Canyons The lioness Savannah was also caught up in this mayhem, and had to be darted. Still drugged and disorientated, she had just started walking around in the boma, when the massive male tiger Seatao approached and unexpectedly attacked her. (Watch the footage of Savannah carrying Julie s cub on the YouTube insert.) [Some of the material for this article was sourced from with the kind permission of Sunette Fourie.] DIE WITGATBOOM Nou die dag het ek toevallig afgekom op n koerantuitknipseltjie waarin mense bespiegel oor die skaarsheid van die tienerjarige Witgatboom, oftewel Boscia Oleoides. Ja, almal sê hulle sien die groot (en meestal nie-so-groot), ou bome oral, en hier-en-daar die kleintjies, maar geen teken van die tieners nie! 3 P a g e

gedeeltes van ons land (Bosveld & Laeveld). Hul stamme groei ook meer regop en heelwat hoër as ons Karoo Witgat.

4 Ek het toe besluit om hierdie verskynsel n bietjie na te vors. Selfs in die veld gaan rondsnuffel op soek na die vermiste tienerjariges. Ek vind toe uit daar is n stuk of 8 soorte Witgatte in Suider-Afrika; onder meer die Boscia Oleoides hier van die Karoo, dan die Boscia Albitrunca, met die bynaam Matoppie, te vinde in die noordelike gedeeltes van ons land (Bosveld & Laeveld). Hul stamme groei ook meer regop en heelwat hoër as ons Karoo Witgat. n Ander interessante familielid is die Boscia Foetidas en soos almal weet, is foetid die Engelse woord vir stink, aldus die Stinkwitgat! Blykbaar is die Witgatboom verwant aan die Mediterraanse Caper (capparaceae); sy blare en lote het n baie hoë voedingswaarde en n mens kan selfs pap en koffie van sy wortels maak. Ersatz Witgat? die verskillende soorte. Ek het slegs afgekom op die Bastard Shepherd en die Smelly Shepherd (ons Karoobasters en dan die familie van Stinkgatte). Die leeragtige blare van die Karoo Witgat (boscia oleoides) Die Karoo Witgat het ook sy ereplek in ons eie Camdeboo se geskiedenis, soos die volgende uittreksel van n artikel deur Justin Fox in die Getaway tydskrif van Julie 2008 vertel : Next morning, we were out on the lands again, this time looking for traces of earlier inhabitants. Spider webs gleamed in the bushes, cranes danced in the distance and meerkats watched us inquisitively. We drove past the Galgenbosch, a gnarled and ancient Witgat boscia oleoides in which a shepherd was hanged for raping the farmer s daughter (a story that didn t make it into Eve s book). Shepherd s Tree with Springbuck Painting by artist Louw Pretorius. [BRON : http--www_louw_co_za-image- Shepards%20Witgat%20+_T_jpg.mht] In Engels word die Witgat n Shepherd s Tree genoem, met min onderskeid tussen Dit laat mens wonder oor watter ander skandes Eve Palmer nie in haar Plains of the Camdeboo uitgewei het nie. (En vir dié wat wil weet : dis ook nie vanwaar die naam Shepherd s Tree afkomstig is nie.) Ewenwel, ek soek steeds vir die tienerjariges wat so skaars is, die Stoutgatte, maar plaas solank n paar fotos van die Outoppies, soos ons hulle hier in die Karoo ken. 4 P a g e

Bydraes deur ons Lede Katryn van Heerden lewer die volgende interessante bydrae oor die gevreesde Perdesiekte (African Horse Sickness).

Daar breek toe n ernstige Perdesiekte epidemie uit; Abie van Heerden was destyds die Voorsitter van die Landbouvereniging. Malherbe het n teorie oor die voortydige behandeling van Perdesiekte gehad.

Sodra daar n abnormale lesing was, moes hulle dadelik vir Malherbe bel, wie dan sou deurjaag om die nodige medikasie per inspuiting toe te dien.

5 Bydraes deur ons Lede Katryn van Heerden lewer die volgende interessante bydrae oor die gevreesde Perdesiekte (African Horse Sickness). Gedurende die 1950 s het ek en my man Malherbe van Heerden vanaf Alexandria verhuis na Graaff-Reinet. Malherbe was n veearts en het n laboratorium by ons huis aangebou en ek het hom geassisteer. Daar breek toe n ernstige Perdesiekte epidemie uit; Abie van Heerden was destyds die Voorsitter van die Landbouvereniging. Malherbe het n teorie oor die voortydige behandeling van Perdesiekte gehad. Ek moes al die perdetelers en eienaars in Graaff-Reinet en omliggende dele bel om hulle hieroor in te lig. Hulle moes soggens en saans die perde se koors neem en daarvan rekord hou. Sodra daar n abnormale lesing was, moes hulle dadelik vir Malherbe bel, wie dan sou deurjaag om die nodige medikasie per inspuiting toe te dien. Só is daar toe baie perdelewens gered en finansiële skade bekamp. [FOTO : /farmanimal/dise ases/documents/ ahshowtospot.pdf] [BRON : Die inkubasie tydperk van Perdesiekte is 1 2 weke. Donkies en sebras het n hoër weerstand daarteen en al het hulle dit onder lede, wys hulle nie noodwendig die simptome daarvan nie. Die siekte saai egter verwoesting onder perde, waarvan 70 95% sterf, indien hulle nie betyds behandel word nie. Die simptome is ook radikaal, waarvan n baie hoë koors, asemhalingsprobleme, geswolle oogkaste en uitermatige slymerigheid maar n paar is. Honde kan besmet word indien hulle die vleis van n siek perd, donkie of sebra eet. Perdesiekte is n dodelike siekte wat perde, donkies, muile en sebras aantas. Alhoewel dit nie aansteeklik is nie, word dit aggressief versprei deur die muggie Culicoides imicola en daarom is dit baie belangrik dat die diere se stalle skoongehou word en daar gereeld met insekdoders gespuit word. 5 P a g e

6 Did you Know? Numerous interest groups have been established since the Shell Gas Exploration issue became frontpage news. Even Greenpeace has become involved. Have we been given all the information, or are we being kept in the dark? What is happening behind the scenes? Read what Lewis Pugh had to say at a meeting in Cape Town on 25 th March 2011 by clicking on the following link : 3/30/lewis-gordon-pugh-the-human-polarbear-tells-shell-to-go-frack-something-else/ Food for Thought Evil prospers when good men do nothing. [John Philpot Curran] The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. [Jimmy Johnson, American Football coach and broadcaster] Only two things are infinite : the universe and human stupidity, and I m not sure about the former. [Albert Einstein] To predict is difficult; especially about the future. [Chinese proverb] Only when the last tree has been cut down, Only when the last river has been poisoned, Only when the last fish has been caught, Only THEN will you find That money cannot be eaten. [American Indian prophecy, submitted by Niel Jacobson] Upcoming Events Please note that our ordinary meetings are held on the 2 nd Tuesday of each month and start at 6pm sharp. Bring along a chair and something for the braai afterwards. The meeting venue is situated behind the Camdeboo National Park s offices, on the Middelburg Road. We look forward to seeing you! Please support Granaat s fundraising Steak Evening being held on Tuesday, 12 th April Contact Christo Vorster for more information. Interested in Birding? Why not join the Graaff-Reinet Bird Club? They have a monthly outing followed by a sociable braai on the 1 st Saturday of each month. Subs are only R30.00 p.a. Contact Judy Caryer at tel or caryer@isat.co.za for more information. Ondersteun asseblief Granaat se Fondsinsamelings Steakaand op Dinsdag, 12 de April Kontak Christo Vorster vir meer besonderhede. 6 P a g e

Granaat Komitee Kontakbesonderhede PORTEFEULJE LID TEL / SELFOON E-POS ADRES Voorsitter Theuns Eksteen 049-8922983 theunsdaf@telkomsa.

com Tesourier Christo Vorster 049-8922032 VorsterinGR@telkomsa.

za Please help us keep our Members List current by paying your outstanding subscription fee. Only R50.

are arranged during the course of the year. à Do you have something to contribute?

Help ons om Nuusbriewe en ander belangrike inligting vinniger en meer doeltreffend by u te kry.

7 Granaat Komitee Kontakbesonderhede PORTEFEULJE LID TEL / SELFOON E-POS ADRES Voorsitter Theuns Eksteen theunsdaf@telkomsa.net Onder-voorsitter Brian Charles NVT Sekretaris Claude Arnott dustcon@quicksa.com Tesourier Christo Vorster VorsterinGR@telkomsa.net Nuusbrief Redaksie & Bemarking Leonie Fouché Roy Stauth fouchel@camdeboo.gov.za shirleyroy@mweb.co.za Please help us keep our Members List current by paying your outstanding subscription fee. Only R50.00 per annum and you get to join us at our monthly braai, receive an informative newsletter every two months and participate in any other events that are arranged during the course of the year. à Do you have something to contribute? Please let us have your interesting stories and events for inclusion in our next Newsletter. Help ons om Nuusbriewe en ander belangrike inligting vinniger en meer doeltreffend by u te kry. Die Komitee rig n beroep op alle lede wie beskik oor n e-pos fasiliteit, om asseblief hul e-pos adres aan die Klub Sekretaris (Claude Arnott) of Tesourier (Christo Vorster) te verskaf. à Wil u n interessante storie of ervaring met ons deel? Voer gerus u bydraes deur sodat ons dit in die volgende Nuusbrief kan plaas. SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT : Cover Page image of Rhigozum Obovatum with the kind permission of USA photographer Michael Charters OTHER PHOTOS : Leonie Fouché or internet sources where indicated. 7 P a g e

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8 SUBSCRIBE TO and receive 11 issues of this beautiful glossy magazine per year, as well as their free fortnightly e-news Wild Idea. Pay less if you subscribe for 2 years PLUS other benefits!! For more information visit their website OR on Facebook OR your enquiry to subscriptions@africageographic.com Also of interest : (Updated reprints are available at Book Stores) 8 P a g e

The Influence ofdietary Protein Levels on Growth Curve Parameters of Quail

The Influence ofdietary Protein Levels on Growth Curve Parameters of Quail Stephanie Kellerman Dissertation presented for the degree ofmphil Livestock Industry Management at the University of Stellenbosch