This is one of my special entries. We have moved Cleo to her new enclosure!! Cleo will soon be sharing the enclosure with Owen. We all arrived at the Park very early in the morning, hoping for all to go well. Luckily it was not raining and the sun was just rising. We had a short briefing with the team to make sure everyone knew what to do.

Kashuru, Elvis, Mahano, Raymond and I during our short briefing on Cleo's move.

Before Cleo entered her box, we fixed the crane hooks onto her box . Then we put Dairy cubes into Cleo’s box and in she went so quickly she took us all by surprise! Then we slid down the door and closed her in the box.Cleo was so calm, she hadly made any noise or fuss and just watched everything around her from a corner of the box

Dr. Kashmiri on top of the box ensuring it is properly closed with help from the team.

Cleo in the boxwas lifted by a crane out of her old enclosure onto a tractor. We used straps to help balance the box in the air. Cleo was then lowered onto the tractor. It was a great relief to see her safely on the tractor. She was still very calm, peeping through the space near the top of the box.

up and away. Box being lifted out of the enclosure by the crane.

Box being Lowered onto the tractor.

The tractor took Cleo to her new enclosure. We rode with Cleo on the tractor and kept pouring water on her to keep her cool. Cleo was still very calm and not once did she seem agitated or irritated. Just very curious. I was so proud of her. I don't think there are many hippos like Cleo around.

Cleo on the move

Once the tractor got to the new enclosure, we quickly fixed the hooks so the crane could lift the box into the new enclosure from the tractor. Cleo was still peeping through the space looking around. We still used the straps on the side of her box for balance.

Touch down!

Cleo is sometimes very curious and plays detective. She sometimes gets out of her Pond and walks around her enclosure, keenly sniffing at different things. This may be to find out if there is anything new. Below is a picture of Cleo, sniffing around her box.

The fish here at Haller Park are very important. They help in removing wastes from the water through feeding. The main fish species at the park is Tilapia. Cat fish are also present. Below is a picture of  Tilapia fish at the fish farm.

Below are Owen, Mzee and Toto relaxing under a tree shade on a warm afternoon. The trio has been spending almost all day together both in the water and on land. At times, Mzee follows Toto. On this day, Owen, Mzee and Toto had been resting in their pond. Toto later got out of the water and Mzee also got out after her. Owen was not left out as he was right behind Mzee!

There are many different and wonderful species of butterflies at Haller park. The main difference between a moth and a butterfly is that butterflies are active during the day while moths are active only at night.

Toto has started spending a lot of time with Owen and Mzee. They have all been resting in the water peacefully. Yesterday during feeding time, Owen did not wait for Mzee and Toto as he rushed over to the feeding area and enjoyed sharing a meal with the two bushbuck in his enclosure as seen in the picture below.

As I was walking around the park yesterday I came across a beautiful snail near the fish farm. Snails have soft bodies and leave a slimy trail wherever they go. On their backs, they carry a shell, which the snails hide in when disturbed. Another use of the shell is to prevent the snail from drying up in hot weather.

Cleo is still happily playing with her sticks. She sometimes falls asleep with the stick across her back as shown in the photo below.

As Haller Park is also a learning area, many pupils from different schools across the country come to visit. Here are some comments from the teachers

Nice scenery. I would like to bring my students here again and again!

We enjoyed the trip. Thanks for the good educative tour. The guide was excellent.

The park is a good environmental goal, targeting all spheres. It was worth it. Thank you and God bless.

Very good work done. Guides are very social and co-operative. Important area for educational visits.

A magnificent venture. We should all work together to preserve it for future generations.

Below is a picture of some school children and their teachers at Cleo’s enclosure.

We have re-introduced Toto to Owen and Mzee’s enclosure. Toto is a female Aldabra tortoise. Female Aldabras can weigh up to 150 kilograms. When Owen was younger, he would rest with Mzee and Toto. Owen and Mzee were resting in their pond when we brought Toto in who immediately made her way to Owen and Mzee’s pond. Before she reached, Owen got out of the water, sniffed her, and then went back in to rest with Mzee. Toto changed her route and went to the back of the enclosure where she spent the day alone.

Owen was in a really good mood yesterday. He was resting with Mzee in their pond. Owen later came out of the water and went for a short walk, sniffing and eating some leaves. Below is a picture of Owen, sniffing at leaves.

The picture in the previous blog indeed is an Oryx shadow. Thank you all for the wonderful comments.

In the picture below, Owen and Mzee are returning to their pond after taking a stroll around their enclosure. Halfway through their walk, they stopped for a drink then headed back to their pond where they spent the rest of the afternoon as it was a hot day.

Aldabra feet are short but large to hold up its heavy body. Its legs have many scales and strong claws at the tip. Although Aldabra tortoises have large feet, their shell is large enough to allow them to draw in their legs and head when necessary.

How well do you know your antelopes? Below is a deceptive shadow of a certain antelope. Can anyone figure out which one?

Yesterday Owen stayed alone all morning. Mzee was at the back of the enclosure and Owen did not go looking for him as he usually does. Instead Owen lay down and tried as much as possible to hide his face behind some twigs, away from the many visitors and ended up falling asleep!

Waterbuck are long-haired and release a sharp smelling greasy secretion.

Below are pictures of waterbuck. The two pictures show clearly the male waterbuck with horns and the female without horns.

Female waterbuck.

Unlike most animals, male waterbuck do not mark territory using dung or urine, as his smell is enough to announce his presence.

Vervet monkeys too can be quite aggressive. Female Vervets with babies will do anything to protect their babies. I have seen Vervet mother monkeys chase away members of their troop just to keep them away from her baby.

As we now all know, Owen often follows Mzee. Mzee always determines their location in their enclosure. Once in a while though, Mzee will follow Owen. On one such occasion, Owen and Mzee were resting in their pond. After a while, Owen got out of the water and right behind him was Mzee trying to keep up!

Yesterday I saw a young vervet monkey peeping at Cleo while tightly holding onto a stick.Cleo was happily eating her dairy cubes. When she turned away, the monkey came out of his hiding place to eat the remaining dairy cubes, but still tightly holding onto the stick.