L i s s a t ab a T i mes P a g e 1 o c t o b e r 2 0 1 3

Storm damage on Lissataba

On the evening of the 30th, a huge storm swept through Lissataba. Although it may not have been the biggest of storms in terms of rain, the wind was incredible. We woke to find many trees had gone over with the sheer power of the storm. One tree on the clubhouse lawn has snapped half way up the trunk and luckily had fallen into the garden rather than towards the roof. Thatch was ripped from the rondavel roofs and the clubhouse lightning conductor was left at a precarious angle. We received an average of 20mm across the farm which the veld soaked up in celebrated anticipation.

Within days, the flowers were blooming; the Mopane Pomegranate (Rhigozum zambesiacum) flowered for the second time this season and the bush became littered, with bright red pom-poms, the fireball lily (Scadoxus multiflorus). Now we wait for the mammals to respond to the rains, counting down the days until the first impala lambs are born.

Photo courtesy of Karen Scheepers (site 16)

S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T :

• Monthly Safari

• Camera Traps

• Security

• Fact Corner

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Storm Damage 1

Monthly safari 2

Camera Traps 3

Security 4

Website 5

Zebra Facts 6

Classified 7

Y O U R M O N T H L Y S A F A R I

P a g e 2 o c t o b e r 2 0 1 3

The local farmers always seem to say ‘this year we are going to get good rain’ but when Septem-ber passed and not 1mm was received a little worry crept in due to the fact that last year we had received 28mm by end September. Luckily October provided 39mm and the bush has sprung to life after the few showers.

September 2012 28.25mm September 2013 0.00mm October 2012 3.12mm October 2013 39.0mm

Its stalking efforts were tempo-rarily halted as it weighed up its options between the hunt and the vehicle. Sadly the cat chose to flee rather than focus on its prey. An incredible sighting and a very special moment.

Did you know? The name caracal comes from the Turkish word ‘karakulak’ which means ‘black ear’. They are renowned for their amazing bird hunting abilities, of which their long and strong back legs are aptly designed. The well known phrase ‘to put the cat amongst the pigeons’

(photo not taken on Lissataba)

originates from the hunting prowess of the caracal, when they were once tamed and trained for bird hunting in Iran. Another incredible sighting this month, was a leopard seen in broad daylight. The animal was seen only for a split second and for a moment it didn’t seem as if it could possibly be true, however, the alarm calling dwarf mongoose which had all run into a small crack in a rock confirmed the presence of a predator.

Some of you may remember us mentioning in the August/September newsletter about a mystery animal that has been seen many times on main road. Well the mystery is solved. There are many creatures on Lissataba that act elusively and that continue to evade us, but almost none more so than the caracal, Felis caracal.

Whilst coming home through the reserve after the weekly town trip, Beth was fortunate enough to see this beautiful cat in broad daylight. Just metres from a flock of alarm calling guineafowl, the caracal had been busy laying in waiting for its hunting opportunity.

R A I N F A L L

C A M E R A T R A P S

P a g e 3 o c t o b e r 2 0 1 3

Once the cameras have been collected, there is always such a massive excitement about viewing the pictures and waiting in anticipation for something amazing to come along. Often when the memory card is full and the camera has taken over 1000 photos, you are overcome by a sinking feeling... a feeling that you missed one strand of grass in front of the camera and now you have hundreds of pictures of that single grass strand, swaying in the wind. This month, one of the cameras had taken over 3000 photos... and there came that sinking feeling. Amazingly enough, as we started to go through, every single picture taken had been triggered by an animal and not a lonely piece of grass. Warthogs, Waterbuck, Impala, Nyala, Kudu, Wildebeest, Zebra, Duiker, Sharpe’s Grysbok, Giraffe, Baboons, Vervet monkeys, Civet and Spotted hyena were seen and it was great to see so many photos where two or even three of the above species were seen in the same photo. On the last day of September, a dead Nyala was found outside site 45/46. It was evident, from the puncture wounds on the neck, that the animal had been killed by a leopard. A camera trap was set up in the hope that the predator would return. For three consecutive evenings, a female leopard fed from her kill. After comparing the photos to the existing ID kits, we quickly established that this was a new female, never to have been seen previously on Lissataba. If this wasn’t exciting enough, the photos taken in the last hour of the day, on the 2nd October, proved to be spectacular. A crocodile was seen on the camera, moving slowly into shot and proceeding to rip the last of the carcass apart before then finally walking away with it. From our calculations, the crocodile must be at least 5 metres in length!

For the first time in approximately two years, a brown hyena was seen on the camera traps this month. Sadly it didn’t hang around for any great photos to be taken, but at least they were good enough to identify the species.

S E C U R I T Y

P a g e 4 o c t o b e r 2 0 1 3

On the last day of September, men with dogs were seen on Main Road by one of our shareholders. The men scattered and the homeowner quickly drove to the office to alert Lissataba management. Phuza Moya responded immediately and everyone positioned themselves at vantage points on the Western boundary. Unfortunately, they were not seen again and nobody was apprehended. Later that evening, Mopaya phoned to inform that they had found a poached warthog at the Mopaya/Lissataba/Phuza Moya corner. On the 16th October, poachers cut through the Mopaya Fence, cutting every electrical strand on both Lissataba and Mopaya sides, as well as a few strands of the non-electrified barbed wire. Within minutes of finding the fences cut, we received a call from Mopaya to say that Michelle was out looking for the poachers on Mopaya and had fired a few warning shots. Lissataba and Phuza Moya responded immediately, patrolling the Mopaya Fence and setting up listening posts. Lissataba security staff were patrolling the Western fence also. Every few minutes, we were taking electrical readings from the Western Fence. Despite a high presence and much activity from Mopaya, Phuza Moya and Lissataba teams, the poachers had traversed through Lissataba, to the Western boundary and cut the fence to make their escape towards Finale. Spoor from the poachers suggested they had made a quick escape and had had no time to poach anything from either of the properties.

No snares have been found on Lissataba in the last month.

L I S S A T A B A W E B S I T E T O G O L I V E

P a g e 5 o c t o b e r 2 0 1 3

The new Lissataba website is soon to go live! On the new page, we have a section for species lists, including; mammals, trees, birds and snakes. We have combined our sightings and knowledge with lists provided to us over the years from other bush-mad and list-loving shareholders. If you are new to birding or to tree identification, then printing the lists will give you an excellent starting point. If you are an old-timer at species ID, then we would appreciate your input. The lists are not complete and are works in progress. If we have missed something, then be sure to let us know and we will endeavour to update them regularly.

Between our staff members there are 37 children. One staff member has 12 children — yes, you read correctly. This year we would love to bring Christmas into their homes. Below is a list of age groups which we will be collecting gifts for. If you would like to partici-pate, please contact the office and advise us which age group you will be choosing to ensure that every kid has a special Christmas. Once you have selected the relevant age group a guide line of appropriate gifts to purchase as well as a Rand value will be mailed to you. Newborn to 2 years Ages 2 — 3 years Ages 4 — 6 years: Grade R and Grade One Ages 7— 8 years: Grade 2 Ages 8 — 9 years: Grade 3 Ages 9 —10 years: Grade 4 Ages 10 —18 years: Grade 5—12

Please help us in bringing Christmas to the homes of the Lissataba Staff Kiddies.

L I S S A T A B A C H I L D R E N G I F T B O X

• The Burchell’s or Plains zebra (Equus burchelli) is one of two zebra species in Southern Africa. The Plains zebra can be differentiated from the Mountain zebra, by its stripes under the belly as well as the lighter brown ‘shadow stripes’.

• Each individual has a unique coat pattern, much like the human

fingerprint. This allows foals to recognize their mothers. • A group of zebra is known as a ‘dazzle’ • The triangular shape seen in a zebra’s track is caused by a part of the body known as

the ‘frog’. The frog functions as a shock absorber and also has a role in the animal’s circulatory system

• Due to the zebra’s digestion system, they always appear to be rounded and healthy. As

hindgut fermenters, they carry a lot of gaseous material and gastric juices which bloats them out, A zebras health can be indicated by the mane (the hairs on the neck). If the mane stands up nicely, the zebra is healthy. If it falls to the side, they are unhealthy.

• Male (stallions) and female (mares) zebra can be

differentiated in the bush by looking out for the black stripe running between their back legs, under the tail. The stripe is wider and more prominent in the females. In males, the stripe is slender and difficult to see under the tail

• The black and white stripes play a role in thermoregula-

tion of zebra. The black stripes absorb heat, resulting in low pressure, whilst the white stripes reflect heat, resulting in high pressure. The pressure gradient causes cooler air from the white stripes to flow to the black stripes. The resultant ‘winds’ that are created help to cool

P a g e 6 o c t o b e r 2 0 1 3

F A C T C O R N E R : Z E B R A

There is a troop of baboons becoming rather bold in the housing section. In the last few weeks, they have entered two houses, breaking stoves and generally causing damage and a whole lot of mess. We ask everyone not to encourage the baboons to your home. Please do not leave food out for them and try to ensure your bins are as ‘baboon-proof’ as possible. If you head out on afternoon drive, ensure that all of your windows and doors are closed properly. We advise that the baboons seen in gardens should be dissuaded by shouting, clapping hands and chasing them off. If cornered, a baboon can potentially be dangerous. If you find an animal in your house, try to give it an escape route rather than blocking its path. The famous, resident honey badger in the housing section is also potentially dangerous. Although they are great to see and his brazenness provides some good opportunities for photographs, we ask owners not to encourage it to their houses by leaving food out.

B A B O O N S B E C O M I N G P E S T S

SITES FOR SALESITES FOR SALESITES FOR SALESITES FOR SALE

Site 1 Open Site Site 19 Open Site Site 25 Built Site Site 26 Built Site Site 28 Share for sale Site 30 Built site Site 33 Share for sale Site 34 Open Site Site 37 Built Site Site 43 Built Site

C L A S S I F I E D S

P a g e 7 o c t o b e r 2 0 1 3

LISSATABA IN THE 21ST CENTURYLISSATABA IN THE 21ST CENTURYLISSATABA IN THE 21ST CENTURYLISSATABA IN THE 21ST CENTURY We have started a Lissataba Facebook page, which aims to update homeowners with the latest goings-on on the reserve, including photos and sightings. To keep updated, search for ‘Lissataba Private Game Reserve’ in the search bar on Facebook and ‘Like’ the page.

FOR SALEFOR SALEFOR SALEFOR SALE Site 31 Site 31 Site 31 Site 31 has a Toyota Hilux game viewer for sale, extra large body good running condi-tion, R35000-00.

Best regards, Donovan, Joeleen and team

LISSATABA CELEBRATES 25 YEARS LISSATABA CELEBRATES 25 YEARS LISSATABA CELEBRATES 25 YEARS LISSATABA CELEBRATES 25 YEARS ————MERCHANDISE AVAILABLEMERCHANDISE AVAILABLEMERCHANDISE AVAILABLEMERCHANDISE AVAILABLE

We have some great Lissataba branded merchandise for sale in the shop to celebrate Lissataba turning 25. Check out the new hats and travel mugs on your next visit.

“Only by acceptance of the past, can you alter it”“Only by acceptance of the past, can you alter it”“Only by acceptance of the past, can you alter it”“Only by acceptance of the past, can you alter it” T.S. ElliotT.S. ElliotT.S. ElliotT.S. Elliot