Animal and Human Behavior

"It's the IRS!" I whisper to Russ as I almost drop my cell phone with excitement.

Here we are with our daughter and husband walking along a brushy creek looking for another blue heron when my almost out of battery phone rings.

Now, not too many people get excited by a call from the IRS, neither do I, normally, but this was about our pending 501 (c)(3) tax exempt status. It was mid July when we sent off our huge application packet to the IRS. It was two months later that we got an acknowledgement of receipt letter. Since late October Russ has called twice for an update. "It's waiting to be assigned an agent" was the reply both times. Just before Christmas they had gotten to the June submittals... we were getting closer!

The herons are forgotten and I literally skipped along the path like a young school girl. Only four relatively simple matters needed to be addressed, all to be clearly outlined in Karen's communiqué due to be mailed right away. That coveted letter is almost within our grasp! Whoooopeeeee!

What's that bird doing in the zebra's ear?

Then, later that same day Frank emailed me that a CD with the great photos he took at the Bird of Prey Sanctuary were on their way. Now Frank lives in the Netherlands, we connected via LinkedIn. We both love wildlife and are dedicated to its protection and conservation, so he totally donated his time and expertise to Nikela, for which we are very grateful.

Soon we'll have a slideshow of his fabulous photos depicting Shannon at work, her amazing birds of prey, and the kids who are privileged to visit the sanctuary. In the meantime please take a look at this short animal behavior slide show of Frank's.

Oh and do visit our new website at http://www.nikela.org/

Report: First Holiday Giving 2010

Small, but off to a hopeful start. $1,135 was raised in six days for 4 projects. 100% of which goes directly to the requested projects.

Saving the Leopard.

This beautiful solitary cat's very survival is at stake. It is our privilege to connect people like you with wildlife conservation projects that make a difference.

Two of these projects help Will and his team capture the movements and behaviors of four free roaming leopards. The data they collect is crucial to determine the endangered species status of the African leopard.

One of the projects helps fund the tracking collars that pin points where Grace, Bo, Lucky and Nhovti hunt, sleep and roam. The other helps buy camera "traps", batteries and supplies to capture photographs of the free roaming leopards in specific locations in the study area.

Raising Up Wildlife Advocates.

The wildlife's future lies in the hands of the rising generation. Ian and Michele believe so totally in this that they invested their retirement into developing a bush school that changes lives. Enough funds were raised to send .... more kids to a week long camp. With your help we'd like to sponsor ... more as soon as possible.

Kids Learn to Save Raptors


As a reward the students in the Enviro Club from an impoverished school visit Africa's largest bird of prey sanctuary. Noone experiences Shannon's flight demonstration without gaining a huge respect for the raptors and a love for this petite woman of passion. Even more importantly myths about owls and vultures are broken to prevent their senseless killing.
>>>Stay tuned: A pilot project is in the works to instruct the entire high school to their vital role in wildlife conservation.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to growing the Nikela community in 2011. With a little from a lot we can make a difference for the leopards, children and all the South African wildlife

Thank You to All Humans who...

Rose just grabbed on and made it happen!

The last couple of days I've read many a heart breaking story about poaching, gas chambers and other animal abuses.  However, in the midst of all this there are people standing up, signing petitions, challenging politicians, even go to to toe with poachers... and I felt grateful.

This brief video is a small attempt to be the voice of those you work hard to protect.  Enjoy!  Oh yes, and do share it with others who work as hard as you at saving the animals... the wild and the domestic.

For the love of wildlife and wild animals.

Give a Gift and Save a Leopard

If you're like me, you enjoy giving a gift that lasts longer than till the batteries wear out!

This year you'll be remembered for giving a most unusual gift...

...access to track one of the few remaining free roaming leopards of Africa.

Today virtual games and animated movies throw us into a surreal world, not this.  You and your friend can see the daily movements of Grace, Bo or Lucky, as they hunt and where they sleep.  Not only that you'll get photo updates and stories from the researches.

Yes, I haven't told you, this leopard tracking is all part of a landmark wildlife conservation study to determine the true status of the African leopard.  Some think they're on the brink of the endangered species list and need special protection.  This research will help us know for sure.  How tragic it would be if we allowed the existence of this beautiful animal to slip thru our fingers!

If you're the least bit intriqued read more about the project and how for as little as $25 (or less if you must) you can participate and help.

"It's a Website!"

Years ago, arriving home with my brand new baby, I was greeted by a big sign in our front yard, it read:

"It's a Boy!"

I walked into our little basement apartment in a daze. Everything looked the same, but after nine months of pregnancy, hours of labor I now stepped into a new world called parenthood.

It's a Website! After months of "pregnancy" and weeks upon weeks of "labor" today I again stepped in to a new world as the Nikela website entered cyberspace and began it's mission ~ to grow a global community of people who care to help experts in South Africa protect the wildlife and prepare the rising generation to take their turn.

Come celebrate with us! Browse thru the website and get to know the amazing people we've come to call friends and the vital work they are engaged in. As you do so please let us know what you think. Nikela has already grown into a community based project and thus is becoming the product of many minds and hearts.

In the future please bookmark the New Nikela Blog
www.Nikela.org/Blog

A Sensless Hunt - A Hippo?

This just in from my friend Toni:

"It is with great sadness we must report that the Hippo that BWC hoped to purchase from a farmer, and relocate him to a place of safety, has already been shot and killed.


An advert was sent out offering a Hippo shoot, as it seems he was 'a problem animal'. We know there is no such thing as a problem animal, only intolerant, impatient, overbearing and greedy humans who will kill anyone in their way deemed to have 'no value'. De Hoek advertised the 'hunt' although they did not have anything to do with the final actions.

Email: dehoeksafari@mtnloaded.co.za
Tel.: 083 549 9096 / 082 627 5011.
Contact Hansie Minnaar / Rina.

To hunt a hippo is probably as challenging as beating a fly to death with a rolled up piece of newspaper. A bull is chosen and one simply walks up to the bank of the river or pond, takes aim, waits for the hippo to present a good head shot and bang, ‘hunt’ over.

Immediately the situation came to light, telephone calls were made and e-mails sent to rescue the Hippo, but we have been notified that the hippo died yesterday."

If this makes your heart boil as it does mine please let your voice be heard by:

• Telling the "hunt" organizers (email address noted above)
• Sharing this post on Face Book and Twitter (share buttons below)

Thank you.  The surviving wildlife thanks you.

Time to Scream? Maybe not...

AAAAAArrrrrrrrrgggggggggg! There! Now I feel better.

Talk about frustrations!  If it's not my software crashing it's internet access slowing.  If it's not hold ups with the website it's merchant services glitches.  And all I want to do is help people like Michele and Ian, Will and his dedicated team, Shannon and Ben, Karin, and... so they can do their small part in saving and protecting the wildlife we all love.

In the meantime I hear that more rhinos have been lost to horn slashing poachers.  That the the king of beasts, the lion is on a fast track toward extinction.  Ironic, just as the new Narnia movie with posters of Aslan are seen everywhere, while most of us are oblivious to the real lion's plight.

Okay... I got a grip!

"Start Where You Are... Use What You Have... Do What You Can."

This advice from Pat Williams and Jay Strack in their book "Shamgar" has saved my life many a time.  Life is good.

Start where you are:  Have great wildlife experts with amazing projects to support.  Have people like you sending us good vibes (and money.)  Got the website almost finished.  Got Noah from DonationPay getting our donation system in place.  Have Russ working feverishly along side of me.  Have Michael shooting our Twitter following way past 2,500.  Have Sand creating the best videos. Got my cat Weasel at my feet. 

There... I'm off to 'use what I have' to 'do what I can' and write up some more PROJECTS to include on the website.