PETERHOUSE
NOSTALGIA
PETERHOUSE
NOSTALGIA
With the excellent rains for two season there is a magic, a poignancy of this enchanted woodland and its sentinels of lichen coloured granites. At last the dust, dung and drought of many years has finally been interacted by revived springs and spilling dams. When last did visitors' vehicles (4x4s and all) have to be winched out of quick sand and sponge vlei?
The park has been increasingly well supported by many pupils of Peterhouse, but even more so by visiting schools under "In Step With Nature", and the usual bird or tree societies. Many on these visits of course have long since been bitten by the bush bug and judging by their compulsion to return, are infected for life.
Two male kudu visitors who jumped into the park in June have decided that this is paradise. Free game cubes, licks and of course, the fairer sex in Bucky the kudu cow. The giraffe have tamed incredibly and continue to elude many visitors and staff alike, who are beginning to question their existence!
The pair of eland have settled well and promise to produce a calf within the next year. There are still a dozen sable and with any luck, new blood will be brought in soon (government permits permitting!!) to protect the genetic pool. The long awaited necessary permits apply too for the necessary translocation of a female waterbuck for our lone ram. The decision was taken to thin out the zebra herd, and they have been reduced to four. Likewise the wildebeest, who now number a dozen. The impala desperately needed hiving off in order to protect the larger and more valuable selective grazers of the sanctuary.
No sightings or signs of leopard (occasional visitors only) were made this year. We continue to be offered other felines, like lion and cheetah, but would prefer to keep the troop of school-going homosapiens of Peterhouse and Springvale on roll. I know that some teachers may beg otherwise!. Moses, (the game scout) would have to change his name to Daniel.
My grateful thank again to many supporters of Gosho Park and Beet Lamprecht (a parent) for his generous support in the unpleasant task of cropping game.
With the continued support of our Rector and management by Mr Harris and Mr Currie and the conservation club, I hope that the legacy of Gosho Park, along with all her bush bugs will continue to infect many.
B Percival.
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