Today we saw animals! For some kids, this is the day they'd been waiting for. The weather was beautiful, 26 degrees C, but a bit hot for the lions.
We started off at Ostrich farm where we learned, in their museum, about how the Khoisan in the western Cape buildt their lives around the ostrich, similar to the Plains Indians and the buffalo. We learned about the leather for shoes, belts, and clothing, the feathers, eggs, and meat. Right now ostrich meat is a growing industry as it has no fat. Out in the park kids stood on ostrich eggs to show their strength. And then we had a chance to sit on an ostrich. They used to have ostrich races with people riding the ostrich who can ride up to 60 kph. I sat on an ostrich!
Our second stop was the lion park. This rescue center took lions from bad situations in circuses and from people who held them as pets. They are not pets! This rehabilitation farm is one of three in the country and is run all on private donations.
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There were 35 lions which they rehabilitated and kept in captivity. For lions, once in captivity, they cannot be put back out in the wild. There were two pairs of white lions which no longer live in the wild and are endangered.
The guide was very good with the kids. She told them about the practice of people raising lions for what is called "canned hunting" which allows people an easy shot at bagging a lion. When the lions are babies, the owners make money by having people pay to pet the baby lions. This is exploitive, and customers are contributing to their business.
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For lunch we stopped at the home of some students at Camps Bay High School who have a venue for outings. They cooked us a traditional braai and the students were able to relax around the pool after such an active week.
Our last stop was a place for helping predatory birds who had been hurt. There was the secretary bird, vultures, eagles, and owls being rehabilitated. One of the men put on a show with birds who had been imprinted by humans. It was pretty impressive though I'm pretty skittish around birds.
For the kids it was a relaxing day. It was so fun to see them talking in their groups, singing together and cementing their friendships. They continue to amaze.
Tomorrow on to the penguins and holocaust museum. Our trip is quickly coming to an end. What a week it has been.
