By Janet Anne Cuthbertson | Project leader
Sometimes it is also the little creatures that count. We discovered a baby rock monitor, the sweetest little reptile about 10 cm in length. They grow to a huge size up to 1.5 meters. We have a number of these beautiful monitors that call our Nature Sanctuary home. Being part of the buffer zone of a World Natural Heritage Site – Isimangaliso Wetland Park, False Bay, means we have an ideal habitat for this species.
Unfortunately, the little monitor was injured. One of its back legs seemed paralyzed, but we hoped it would heal. We made a comfortable rehab area for it in a large basin, prepared food that it may eat, and provided a shallow dish of water for it. We kept it in its little rehab home in an ideal spot near a water pond, with partial sunlight. On the first day it was doing well, it drank water, moved around, and seemed to be settled. Yesterday however it refused to eat. We left it secluded and tried not to check too often. Eventually, we brought it inside again in the evening and decided to take it to a vet the following morning.
My night was restless, I checked on it more than once but it was moving only slightly. Perhaps it was asleep I thought, so I did not want to disturb it. I adjusted the warmer to ensure it was just right. Sadly, it did not survive but perhaps that is best as we would have not wished it to live a life of suffering. Every animal that is injured gets our full care and large or tiny we are saddened if it does not survive. I will bury the little rock monitor near the pond where we found it.
Other news is that our vet will be attending to a wildebeest that needs to be checked during the coming week. We have encountered a giraffe that has overgrown hooves on a nearby wildlife reserve. This is a very painful condition and we will ensure that it also receives veterinary care.
A most important concern presently is that we need to move some nyala into another sanctuary as their numbers have increased. Although they are mainly browsers, grass also forms about 30% of their diet and the impact they have is growing. They may deplete the grazing and also browsing that is important for other species such as impala. Although we are just getting over the winter dry period we notice grazing lines that already show their impact.
From the largest to the smallest animal, we care immensely and your support helps us ensure that no animal suffers.
Heartfelt thanks for your help!
By Janet Anne Cuthbertson | Project leader
By Janet Cuthbertson | Project Leader
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