It has been
six long and anxious weeks since Nduna the lion suffered a mysterious head
injury that paralysed him and necessitated a move to a hospital pen for the
hands-on nursing required for his rehabilitation.
Cocooned in
his nest of fluffy blankets, duvets and hot water bottles each nihgt, hand-fed,
bed-bathed and given water from a syringe every two hours, watched over and
nurtured, Nduna’s remarkable recovery is testament to the will power and
courage of a very special lion. The astonishing trust he placed in us made his
rehabilitation possible. Happy to use a handy human body as a ballast as he
learnt to walk again, revelling in the cuddles and pampering lavished upon him
as we willed him to get better, the relationship we forged with Nduna during this
time has inspired us all. Even Dr Vinay Ramlaul of the Twenty Four Hour Vet,
who sponsored all Nduna’s treatment and got the unenviable task of giving Nduna
several large injections each day got no more than a reproachful look as he
sunk yet another huge needle into Nduna’s massive rump.
At last
Nduna is up and walking, and although it will take months for him to have the
full range of movement on his left side, we feel it is time for Nduna to return
home to his companion Kadiki. Dr Keith Dutlow of the Aware Trust darts Nduna
and we load his bulk onto the back of a truck for the short journey back to his
enclosure. He is thoroughly examined by the vets who also give him a dental
check (what big teeth he has!) and micro-chip him at the same time. When he
comes round and finds himself at home the expression of utter delight on his
beautiful, beloved face makes us laugh out loud with pleasure and relief. His
joy at being back makes every second of his rehabilitation worthwhile.
He limps
out into the late afternoon sunshine, still a little unsteady on his left side,
crooning lovingly to mercurial Kadiki, who slides him several thoughtful,
golden-lashed glances before strolling over nonchalantly and settling
down beside him with a little sigh. Nduna inspects every single one of his toys
(and there are many!), washing them vigorously with his huge pink tongue and
muttering about Kadiki’s lack of house-keeping skills. Then he drops his
enormous body onto the grass and does an exuberant victory roll, legs paddling
the air, mouth open in a giant-toothed grin of sheer bliss, juggling his
battered collection of tyres between the paws we had been so afraid he would
never use again. Nduna has everything he could possibly want, including a large
pork dinner served with a flourish by one of the smiling feeders.
It feels as
though there should be a whole stadium of people up on their feet, cheering
Nduna’s triumphant return, but he has to make do with the jubilant Sanctuary
staff singing and dancing in celebration on the dusty road before him. Welcome
home, beloved brave lion.
JOHANNA,
the lioness we
rescued in June continues to make progress. Each morning she comes to greet me,
crooning softly as she limps across her beautiful new enclosure full of Msasa
trees sporting their bright green, red and orange spring plumage. She has a
routine now, bringing her collection of toys to show me, carrying them as if
she killed them herself, and then showing off her football skills by dribbling
a rock round and round her water dish, shooting quick golden glances in my
direction to make sure I am paying attention. Then it is time for ‘Predator
Yoga’ – a series of stretches and rolls accompanied by a running commentary of
grunts and guttural exclamations. Once again I am expected to watch closely and
offer lavish praise for her grace and skill.
Then she is
off to the back of the enclosure to keep Joshua company. Johanna has been
determined to befriend angry, aggressive Joshua, inching closer to him each day
and bearing the brunt of his sudden frightening rages which are fortunately
nowadays more noise than anything else. Now, after weeks of persistence, she
settles with a happy sigh in a spot right beside him, giving them both comfort
and companionship. If this lioness could smile, she would.
JOSHUA is still wary of us, too haunted by
his past to shake off the demons of fear and mistrust just yet. But yesterday
he lay a few metres from me, washing his calloused old paws and battered face
after dinner, and I thought he finally looked content.
Our
facebook site, Bally Vaughan Animal Sanctuary, has Nduna, Josh and Johanna’s
stories in pictures.
We would
like to thank you all for your fantastic support and encouragement during what
has been a very challenging time at the Sanctuary. It makes such a difference
to us all knowing we have so many wonderful people helping to keep the
Sanctuary going, and the animals happy and safe. Special thanks to the Twenty
Four Hour Vet and Dr Vinay Ramlaul, Cool Galah Australia, Sandie and Chalkie
van Schalkwyk, Mogo Zoo, Friends of Paradise, Aware Trust, Sharon Nicholls
whose positive thinking and fierce encouragement make things so much easier,
Debs and Craig Sly, Andrew and Leigh Revolta, Di Fynn, Ashley-Kate Davidson,
Chooks Langerman, Sarah Kenchington, Kerry Wallace of DV Productions, Jay and
Rachel, Jackie Cocksedge, Ted and Carrie Perepeczko, Enid Graves, Carole
Graham, Bev Lawes, Pauline Visser, Stuart Sylvester of Specialist Hire, Teresa
Gaston and Alexa Volker, the Middleton family, Shane Zangel, the artist Heather
Evans for a stunning, donated painting of one of our rescue lions, the artist
Sheena Povall for constant and generous support through donating beautiful
paintings to raise funds, Whelson Transport and Ian Silk, Sylvia Carter, Mike
Garden, Sharon Wilson, Montana Meats, Douglyn Farm, Vera Taylor, Rose and Rogan
Maclean, Lorraine Thomas and Mike Wedlock, George Kille and S&P, Prof Pat
Kelly, Harare SPCA, The Cheeseman, Sherrol D’Elia and volunteer Sarah Stangle.
Sarah Carter
THE BALLY VAUGHAN SANCTUARY
Tel: 263 772 592 944 or 263 733 436 239
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment