Tuesday 25 November 2014

THE DOCTOR IS IN FOR HIS 20TH VISIT – PROFESSOR STURLA EIK-NES

PROFESSOR EIK-NES AND HIS RESEARCH GROUP AT ZULULAND
TREE LODGE - UBIZANE WILDLIFE RESERVE

As Ubizane Wildlife Reserve we are always thrilled when we have guests who return to stay with us. This is why we have decided to profile one of the most distinguished returning guests to ever stay with us. November 2014 marks the 20^th visit of the Norwegian Sir - Professor Eik-Nes Sturla to Ubizane and we wanted to share his story with everyone.

Professor Sturla, (as he is commonly known) studied at Minster University in Germany. He went back to Norway to start practising, in 1985 he became a Professor in the field of Ultra Sound and Women Health. In 1998 he became President of the World Federation of Ultra Sound. This position led him to his first visit to South Africa in 2000; he was the official guest of the South African Ultra Sound Association. Here is a Question and Answer on his life and his visits to Ubizane Wildlife Reserve.

What was the defining point in your life that led you to decide to be in the field of Ultra sound?

When I was nine years old I took a keen interest in photography and when I was studying in Germany one of my professors remarked how good my ultra sound pictures where and asked why and I told him that it was because I had been an amateur photographer for over 15 years and it was at that moment that I decided that this was what I wanted to do and from then on I have not turned back.

Who was the most iconic person to you in history?

Nkosi Albert Luthuli the work he did fighting apartheid in South Africa and him receiving a Nobel Peace Price for his efforts truly inspired me. The main inspiration came from my father who explained to me when I was 15 years old why Albert Luthuli was getting a Nobel Peace Price, he deeply touched me when he talked about apartheid and how Chief Luthuli was fighting it.

What is your favourite book?

Anything about Nelson Mandela and Nkosi Albert Luthuli is my favourite book.

Tell us about your family

I have one wife to whom I have been married for over 46 years now, I have three sons and eight grandchildren.

What is the greatest project of your career?

There are many big projects I have done in my line of work but the project of building an Ultra-Sound machine specifically for the African environment is the most exciting project I have ever been involved in. Building a machine that is not too sensitive and can work in the changing climates and extreme conditions in terms of weather and power shortages.

When did you first visit Ubizane Wildlife Reserve?

In March 2001 I booked a Safari trip and I stayed at Zululand Tree Lodge, I booked a game drive to Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park that was my first time here.

What aspect of Ubizane stood out to you that first visit?

The staffs, when we arrived, were exceptionally friendly and immediately I liked it.

How would you describe Ubizane to another person?

Ubizane is a paradise on earth, it frees me from the stress of work and the fatigue of research. Over the years I have made many friends and am making even more friends with the staff at Ubizane.

Why do you keep coming to Ubizane?

Ubizane has been so inspirational and calming to me that I bring my colleagues, students and family. Over the past 13 years I come sometimes twice or thrice a year because the place gives me a homely feel, the more I come the friendlier the place and the people become.

What would people not readily know about you?

I am very emotional mainly because I like people and their lives mean a lot to me.

What is the greatest compliment that you have ever been paid?

Being Knighted for my efforts in the field of Ultra Sound and Women health.

What makes you laugh?

Anything and everything. Humour is an integral part of my life because I work with very intelligent and highly ambitious people and without humour it would be difficult to coordinate them.

What’s your advice on how to become successful?

Education. Without education people cannot succeed.

What are your most poignant moments of Ubizane?

· The Boma dinners with the warm atmosphere, the lights around the Fever trees and the general ambience of the dinners, are a memory I never forget.

· At Safari Lodge the last 60 minutes before sunrise, having a cup of coffee while hearing only the birds and the animals is such a peaceful and serene time, free from any disturbances.

We as the Ubizane team are happy to have you Professor Sturla Eik-Nes and we look forward to your next visit, Sir.

Saturday 15 November 2014

MaLungile vs Tiaan & Dwain- ALL THE ACTION IN PICTURES

The MaLungile vs Tiaan & Dwain Picture Story. “Our famous feisty female croc, MaLungile, really put up a fight when she was being moved from the vehicle to her new pond at Ubizane Wildlife Reserve. Her adventurous first day is outlined in our blog http://ubizane.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-crocs-are-here.html Here is a step by step picture story of our amazing newcomer’s shenanigans on her first day on Ubizane Wildlife Reserve:

Friday 7 November 2014

THE CROCS ARE HERE!

UBIZANE’S FIRST PREDATORS ARRIVE!!!

For over a year Ubizane Wildlife Reserve has been awaiting the arrival of the crocodiles. Now after tons of paperwork, payments and permits, the crocodiles are here. The float of ten one year old crocs consists of two males and eight females. The Ubizane team assembled at the pond which was prepared well in advance in anticipation of the new arrivals. Once two of the crocodiles had been offloaded, Chloe, our “Goatdarshian” decided to run into the pond and welcome the newcomers, which sent the whole team into a panic craze trying to get her out of there, one of the team members had to chase her out or risk her becoming a welcoming feast for the crocs. These guys are the first predatory animals on the reserve so Chloe thought they were the usual harmless neighbours she is used to.

Tiaan and Dwain did the work from taking the crocs out of the vehicle, carrying them to the pond side, removing the duct tape from the mouth and ushering them into the pond. This was no easy task as one of the males, who I nicknamed “Boris” (after every obstinate movie character in the ‘90s), made it very difficult for them to take him to the pond. Boris made a growling steam- like hissing sound and jerked around while lashing out with his tail. His escapades where put to shame by the displays of one of the female crocs, our General Manager Natascha named her “Ma Lungile”, for a good eight minutes she was struggling and fighting with Tiaan and Dwayne, every chance she got she would make a run for it into the Fever Tree Forest. The two movers sustained quite a number of cuts from her claws, thank God her mouth was duct taped otherwise it could have been worse. At one point “Ma Lungile” ran in the direction of the driver who was standing a bit far from the pond, he was like Usain Bolt in the 100meters at the Olympics.

While offloading croc number nine the team had a photo op with her. Once the crocs where released into the water they lay low for the whole day, probably just getting used to their new home or just resting from a very long trip to Ubizane. The entire Ubizane Team happily welcomes the new addition to our ever growing family.

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE NILE CROCODILE.

The Crocodile {Crocodylus Niloticus}

The Nile crocodile is found throughout Africa. Large, lizard shaped reptile with four short legs and long muscular tail. The hide is rough and scaled. Juvenile Nile crocodiles are dark olive to brown with darker crossbands on tail and body. Adults are uniformly dark with darker crossbands on tail.

Crocodile are found throughout South Africa in rivers, freshwater marshes, estuaries and in mangrove swamps.

SIZE

Length: 2.5 to 5.5m; Weight: up to 1000 kg or more.

HABITAT

They live in lakes, rivers, freshwater swamps and brackish water, in deep pools and on sand banks with suitable nesting spots and a sufficient food supply.

DISTRIBUTION

The Nile crocodile is the most common crocodilian found in Africa today.

DIET: Up to 70% of the adult diet is fish. Other prey items may include zebras, hippos, porcupines, pangolins, and migrating wildebeest.

SOCIALISATION

Crocodiles are gregarious animals. Groups of crocodiles are known as "floats" when in the water, and on lands, groups are referred to as "basks". The group sizes depend primarily on availability of or abundance of food sources and may range from as few as two crocs to as many as 200 individuals in a group.

REPRODUCTION

Sexual maturity relates to size. Males are mature at about 10 feet at approximately 10 years of age, where as females at about 6.5 feet at approximately 10 years of age.

INCUBATION:

• Females nest in November and December on sandy shorelines, dry stream beds, or riverbanks.

• Females lay 25 to 100 eggs in the sand.

• She guards until they hatch 3 months later.

• When young crocodiles are hatching, either parent may help them out of the egg by rolling it between their tongue and palate. This cracks the shell allowing for an easier escape.

LIFE EXPECTANCY = 45 years in the wild, up to 80 years in captivity.

PREDATORS

• Nile crocodiles have no natural predators.

• Outside water, crocodiles can meet competition from other dominant savannah predators, notably lions and leopards