Exciting Moments

The last few days have had some exciting moments indeed. On Wednesday, we went out to Bellebenno as usual, but on the drive home, all of a sudden a cat leaps across the road! Not just any cat: a leopard! We hit the brakes and back up to see if we could catch a better look, and the young adult leopard was sitting behind some trees/brush looking at us back. What a beautiful animal and a rarity to see, so I am one lucky gal!

After we returned to CCF’s main center, we found out that they were going to run the cheetah cubs, Rainbow and Aurora. A “run” consists of rigging up a lure (a cloth tied to a string) that is hooked up to a battery, such that the rag can be moved around the enclosure with a remote. The movement of the rag stimulates a cheetahs natural instinct to hunt, much like domestic cats like to attack toys with feathers or laser pointers. This would be only the second time these cubs were run. These youngsters are less than a year old and too cute, so watching them chase the rag was super enjoyable. Ahh cute cubiness….

Yesterday, we had Laurie and her aunt, Anna, join us on our trip to Bellebenno. For those who don’t know, I met Laurie a couple years ago at the CCF benefit in DC. The three of us stood in the bed of the truck as we drove through the 57ha cheetah enclosure, getting to watch them first walk with the car, then run after the car. Watching cheetahs run is so fantastic. It is so dry that the truck kicks up a lot of dust, but I managed a few good shots with my camera I think (while trying also to hold on tight!).

Today had its own excitement. The Bellebenno girls were being fed donkey heads today, and thus I had to “mark” each of the donkey heads with the appropriate glitter, beans, corn, rice, etc. This was something new and I surprisingly enjoyed it… though I enjoy every moment here besides the occasional cold shower. The photo is not for the faint of heart…

Every day is a new adventure!