Bouba Ndjida!
Door: Elise
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Elise
22 Januari 2015 | Kameroen, Garoua
Hello all!!
Today, I will try to give a short summary about what I have done last two or so weeks. It has been busy, but also quite relaxing.
We went to Bouba Ndjdia for some days. The car was fixed, so we could go. Only on the way we got a flat tire, but that was not quite a big deal. We we close to Rey Bouba, so there it could be fixed. After that, we continued our journey to the camp. I was so happy to be back there. That place is just too awesome. The beautiful view on the dry river. Animals coming by to drink water.
Every day, we did a herbivore count. With this, we can calculate herbivore densities in the park. Is a good way to wake up. Standing in the back of the car and just watching animals and counting them. Every day it is a surprise what you will see. One of the days we saw 2 lions!!! Yay! You do not see them so often here since densities are quite low. Nothing in comparison with east or southern Africa. Also one day we saw quite a lot of giraffes. Furthermore, a lot of the 'general' animals. Roan antelopes, hartebeest, pumba's and all other small gazelles. We only did not see Derby's elands and the buffalos yet. We keep them for later
Also we put some camera traps. We are testing a new method to attract cats by odors.. Untill now, is does not really work, but we keep trying. At least we have some funny pictures from animals passing by. Even a lioness that was attacking our camera. haha.
We also searched for some carnivore poos. Yes I know, it sounds gross. However, most of them are totally dried out, so its ok. We use them for dietary research of the carnivores. And we already found quite a lot, while we did not even searched a lot. And.. another big advantage.. We can go by foot through the park.. another awesome experience to see the park. (No the chance to face a lion is not that big haha).
Last, we did three calling station. On two of them, lions responded. At the first, we thought it was a large hyena, ut when we torched, it was a very large male lion that just passed our car (then you feel some adrenaline, when you are just sitting in the back of the car, no more than 3 meters away from such a large animal). Normally, hyenas do also response a lot to calling stations, but they seem to be disappeared from the park at the moment. We did not see a lot of signs from them. Maybe, they are still on an other part of the complex. We shall see.
Another nice story, we saw elephants, just next to our camp. We couldn't see them very well, and making a picture was quite impossible, but just knowing that they were there was enough. They stayed foraging for a couple of hours. There are only a few groups left (after a huge elephant slaughter in 2012 :(). Was happy to see that there are still some left (for now).
Also the car had many problems again. We had to go 'doucement' all of the time. Also when we were heading back to Garoua, we had to take another route. We had to buy motor oil and the total journey took sooo long!! 8.5 hours, while normally we take only 5 hours or so. But we made it and that was the most important thing. During the travel, we passed the nothern part of Bénoué NP. It is really sad to see what the state of that park is. A few years ago, it was foresty and bushy.. But now it is an open and empty space. Almost all trees are logged and all animals are gone. Something has to be done soon to rescue this park. Luckily, there is a really good conservator here now, that is doing a really good job. Lets be positive for the future!!
Back in Garoua, we did some regular stuff. Answering emails, entering data, thinking about the next fieldwork period, writing new proposals and stuff. Bit boring, but also work that needs t be done. Also the car was getting fixed. Something was broken and there was only one part to repair it with in whole Garoua.. :/ Annoying, but is got fixed in the end. Now, our car sounds like an airplane haha. Also one of the days we were invited to eat couscous at Maloums house. He is always missing his couscous when we are in the field and are mostly eating westen food. :( So, we were eating traditional couscous that evening. And it tasted really good :D Also Cameroon played that evening in the Africa cup.. All streets were empty because everybody was watching. Thus, also we were watching.. In the end it, was a really boring match.. that it even stayed 1-1 was a miracle.
Really more did not happen. I think I told the most important things for now. Tomorrow I will go to Bénoué NP for a couple of days for some training and to so some calling stations. We shall see what the coming days will bring. I hope not too many tseetsee flies :D
See you later!!
Greets from sunny and warm Cameroon.
Elise
Today, I will try to give a short summary about what I have done last two or so weeks. It has been busy, but also quite relaxing.
We went to Bouba Ndjdia for some days. The car was fixed, so we could go. Only on the way we got a flat tire, but that was not quite a big deal. We we close to Rey Bouba, so there it could be fixed. After that, we continued our journey to the camp. I was so happy to be back there. That place is just too awesome. The beautiful view on the dry river. Animals coming by to drink water.
Every day, we did a herbivore count. With this, we can calculate herbivore densities in the park. Is a good way to wake up. Standing in the back of the car and just watching animals and counting them. Every day it is a surprise what you will see. One of the days we saw 2 lions!!! Yay! You do not see them so often here since densities are quite low. Nothing in comparison with east or southern Africa. Also one day we saw quite a lot of giraffes. Furthermore, a lot of the 'general' animals. Roan antelopes, hartebeest, pumba's and all other small gazelles. We only did not see Derby's elands and the buffalos yet. We keep them for later
Also we put some camera traps. We are testing a new method to attract cats by odors.. Untill now, is does not really work, but we keep trying. At least we have some funny pictures from animals passing by. Even a lioness that was attacking our camera. haha.
We also searched for some carnivore poos. Yes I know, it sounds gross. However, most of them are totally dried out, so its ok. We use them for dietary research of the carnivores. And we already found quite a lot, while we did not even searched a lot. And.. another big advantage.. We can go by foot through the park.. another awesome experience to see the park. (No the chance to face a lion is not that big haha).
Last, we did three calling station. On two of them, lions responded. At the first, we thought it was a large hyena, ut when we torched, it was a very large male lion that just passed our car (then you feel some adrenaline, when you are just sitting in the back of the car, no more than 3 meters away from such a large animal). Normally, hyenas do also response a lot to calling stations, but they seem to be disappeared from the park at the moment. We did not see a lot of signs from them. Maybe, they are still on an other part of the complex. We shall see.
Another nice story, we saw elephants, just next to our camp. We couldn't see them very well, and making a picture was quite impossible, but just knowing that they were there was enough. They stayed foraging for a couple of hours. There are only a few groups left (after a huge elephant slaughter in 2012 :(). Was happy to see that there are still some left (for now).
Also the car had many problems again. We had to go 'doucement' all of the time. Also when we were heading back to Garoua, we had to take another route. We had to buy motor oil and the total journey took sooo long!! 8.5 hours, while normally we take only 5 hours or so. But we made it and that was the most important thing. During the travel, we passed the nothern part of Bénoué NP. It is really sad to see what the state of that park is. A few years ago, it was foresty and bushy.. But now it is an open and empty space. Almost all trees are logged and all animals are gone. Something has to be done soon to rescue this park. Luckily, there is a really good conservator here now, that is doing a really good job. Lets be positive for the future!!
Back in Garoua, we did some regular stuff. Answering emails, entering data, thinking about the next fieldwork period, writing new proposals and stuff. Bit boring, but also work that needs t be done. Also the car was getting fixed. Something was broken and there was only one part to repair it with in whole Garoua.. :/ Annoying, but is got fixed in the end. Now, our car sounds like an airplane haha. Also one of the days we were invited to eat couscous at Maloums house. He is always missing his couscous when we are in the field and are mostly eating westen food. :( So, we were eating traditional couscous that evening. And it tasted really good :D Also Cameroon played that evening in the Africa cup.. All streets were empty because everybody was watching. Thus, also we were watching.. In the end it, was a really boring match.. that it even stayed 1-1 was a miracle.
Really more did not happen. I think I told the most important things for now. Tomorrow I will go to Bénoué NP for a couple of days for some training and to so some calling stations. We shall see what the coming days will bring. I hope not too many tseetsee flies :D
See you later!!
Greets from sunny and warm Cameroon.
Elise
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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
