Game count, Marloth Park…My two year “heartaversary”…The beat goes on…Thank goodness…

Since we left Marloth Park in May 2019, as mentioned in a prior post,  a number of animals have been “culled” or relocated to other areas, including Lionspruit, a game conservancy within Marloth Park. See the map below:

The game count was conducted yesterday as shown in this report below.

In a perfect world, there would only be enough animals that this 3000 hectares of land and vegetation could sustain. But, a reality of this special area is there are more animals that nature can provide for, resulting in many homeowners and visitors feeding them.

Feeding the wildlife is an accepted practice, although controversial, which includes game pellets, Lucerne (hay), and certain “safe-for-them” vegetables and fruits such as sweet potatoes, bananas, carrots, and apples which many of us purchase to feed them on a regular basis, especially during the “lean times,” during droughts and dry weather when the vegetation they need is less prolific.

What’s the controversy? Many of the homes in Marloth Park are rented at certain points to tourists. Let’s face it, they, like us, come here to interact with the wildlife, generally around food which brings them back to our gardens, over and over again. Some feel that by feeding them, we are preventing them from foraging for their own food sources in the vegetation.

We understand this fully. But, after spending a total of 19 months in Marloth Park, over the years, we have seen starving and malnourished animals. If we can supplement their diet to keep them healthy, it is nearly impossible for us animal lovers to resist.

Another question that arises, is, what happens when tourists or homeowners leave the property, the animals return and no one is there any longer to feed them? We worried about this very fact when we left the Orange house in 2019 after 15 months of feeding the wildlife. But, these marvelous creatures aren’t dumb, by any means, and they’ll seek out other tourists and homeowners for food, as well as continuing to forage.

Few of the animals in Marloth Park are carnivores or omnivores and hunt other wildlife for food. An example of this is the mongoose, who will kill and eat snakes when they are resistant to the venom, Ironically, on February 22, 2018, we did a story about carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores found in Marloth Park. Please click this link for details. Also, it’s imperative NOT to feed the animals “people food.” They are unable to digest food other than the pellets and appropriate vegetation, and offering them the equivalent of “junk food” can make them sick or even kill them.

It rained in buckets last night and continues to rain today. Storms are brewing in the Indian Ocean and heading this way. Our garden is a muddy mess. We doubt we’ll see much wildlife until this passes. In the meantime, Tom is outside on the veranda and I am indoors in the bedroom, staying cool and comfortable until this bad weather passes.

It was two years ago today that I had open-heart surgery here in Nelspruit, South Africa. Although I still bear some of the lingering effects of this life-changing, life-saving surgery, I am grateful for the medical care I received in helping me come out on the other side. And, of course, I am grateful to my husband Tom, who provided the best possible care, love, and attention possible, along with our many friends in Marloth Park.

Have a great day! Stay safe, wear a mask, wash your hands, and social distance. Let’s put this dreadful pandemic behind us!

Photo from one year ago today, February 12, 2020.