Trapping SUCCESS and we eat cake

Only day two of field work but Galen really wants to catch a Rynchocyon and Peter says he will be on valium if they don’t within a week.  They are particularly hard to trap. But trapping them is their entire focus, only then can they begin the process of seeing if they are a new sub species or even species. 

As they appear up the forest path, they are clutching a bag (old pillow case) that contains something, it seems large.  Yes, they are smiling, they have caught one, the mysterious Giant Elephant Shrew.  It is an amazing creature, dark rusty brown with darker lines and spots along the back and a deep orange bottom.  The nose is elongated to a point and very mobile, with its twitching and effective end.  It has dark currant eyes.  It is placed in the loo with natural vegetation, logs, much foliage, for some photographs –( and the loo looks like the corner of a hotel lobby where the brief is ‘natural’ or a perhaps a local museum diorama.) 

Rynchocyon sp.

Notice the mobile tip to its nose

We go in to see the setting and the Sengi is released and immediately runs up Dominik's back behind his shirt and hides under his arm, pocking his long nose out of the short sleeve.  It is so endearing and Dominik feels protective of this wild creature that has found good refuge. His currant eyes are now matched by D’s doe eyes, and it is clear that he is wondering about it as a pet.  Galen stiffens the mood and pops it back it the bag.  We remind ourselves that this beautiful creature could be an ambassador for its species and hopefully enhance the spotlight on conservation at Mareja.

In no time it is prepared and stuffed, pinned on cardboard and drying in the sun. 

(The chickens have to be watched, they have discovered the centre of Operation Shrew and the scraps left by the dissecting process under the table.  Destroying the final carefully prepared specimen would be a disaster on a global, biodiversity hotspot, scale.)

Throughout this I am working hard preparing a fund-raising bid with Oxford University, the deadline is approaching and we have much hope pinned on this bid. It will support research and the development of a Biological Field Station at Mareja for the local university, Unilurio in partnership with Quirimbas National Park.

Also I decide it is a cake baking day, so the furnace is lit.  Dominik is making a drainage channel around the loo involving the new tiles and music.  We rarely have music playing, in fact never during the day.  But it has created a happy non speaking environment for everyone.  In the later afternoon, at the table by the swing, Peter and Galen are preparing their Sengi, dissecting, dusting with maze meal and stuffing with cotton wool. 

After the cake mixture is carefully divided between tins, Antonio prepares the furnace as only he can, removing the larger coals which narrowly miss his feet.  I go to help Galen cut his nets in half, to double his capturing capacity, with a tin mug of tea for us both.  I have a view of D with trowel in hand to my left with Peter beyond with many small tools and a pinned out Sengi in front of him.  I reflect on the scene as we stretch the nets the length of the main domestic area of Mareja, then The Killers sing us into the sunset. 

One of those moments to hold onto - surreal and wonderful.