Welcome to Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time). You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2022/04/28/cheney-brothers-silk-mill-1/
Last weekend, my family took a short mini-break to Ukutula Conservation Centre in Brits, North West Province. At this centre they do research relating mainly lions and cheetahs in order to ensure the preservation of these wonderful animals going forward. The centre is doing artificial insemination of lionesses using sperm from African lions all over the world. This is to ensure a diversified gene pool and prevent genetic physical defects resulting from inbreeding. There is also a facility at the centre to store eggs and sperm from lions and other wild cats.
There are only 20,000 lions left in the wild in Africa and 50,000 is considered to be the minimum number to ensure the survival of a species. To add to the threats posed to lions in the wild from loss of habitat and poaching, the lion population in South Africa’s Kruger National Park is being further impacted by rising cases of tuberculosis. There is currently no cure and no preventative vaccination and Ukutula is one of the research centres working hard to change this position and protect our lion populations. You can read more about tuberculosis among lions here: https://www.awf.org/news/tuberculosis-imperils-lions-kruger-park
Here are a few pictures of some of the doors at the lodge.
It looks peaceful, but it isn’t.
You can hear the sounds of the bush here – Lion melody
As I mentioned, the centre is mainly for lions and cheetahs, but it also has a lot of rescue animals. These tigers are an example of rescues. Unfortunately, the tigers have limited space, but they are not natural to Africa and they are very unpredictable and aggressive. I wrote a poem about the tigers in my favourite 99-syllable form. It was one of 7 I wrote over the weekend.
Confessions of a tiger
Africa’s not my home
I don’t belong here
I was entertainment for a wealthy man
With no common sense
Who tired of me
***
I cannot be tamed
Or made to do tricks
I’m unreliable even when trained
If my instincts kick in
I will turn on you
***
At least he realised
I would never fit
He asked the sanctuary to collect me
It sees to all my needs
And I have a mate
By Robbie Cheadle
***
I also got to walk with the baby cheetahs.
I petted one for about 3 seconds
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1qqFqMdO4hg
You can see the cheetahs walking here:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eIyqXolr7iY
We saw three rescue baby leopards. This pictures is also through the links.
I filmed a baby leopard’s first encounter with a spider, so cute:
roberta-writes.com 
The lion numbers are very sobering. I hope the species survive. The rondavel is a very cool building (with a pretty door!).
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Hi Priscilla, that rondavel was in an enclosure where a springbok lived. They are such sweet buck.
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Thanks for sharing the wonderful doors and photos, Robbie. I was sad to read about tuberculosis among lions. I had never considered something like that, as if they aren’t threatened enough.
Your poem is lovely. I think you captured his thoughts well.
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HI Dan, I am glad you enjoyed this post. I have some doors from the lion camps for next week. I was horrified to learn about the TB among the lions. I had no idea about it. Progress is being made with a vaccination, I just hope it’s in time to save the ones in the Kruger. I’m delighted you enjoyed the poem. This one just came to me.
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An important place, but also beautiful.
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It is a great place, Craig.
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Love the photos and the poem. So sad about the lions. Thanks for sharing, Robbie! 💕🙂
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My pleasure, Harmony. I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
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It’s frightening how many animals–and plants–are on the verge of extinction. It’s hard to undo all the damage we’ve done, but I’m glad some are trying. Thanks for sharing all of this, and You really entered the tiger’s mind with your words. (K)
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HI Kerfe, I didn’t realise the lion figures were so low, to be honest. The game ranger said this and then I checked it at home. Frightening. This poem was one that came easily with no effort required.
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Wonderful/sad blog post, Robbie. And your poem is very compelling.
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HI Dave, I also find it sad, but there is still time to change things and there are people who dedicate their whole lives to doing just that. My husband and I always try to visit such places and support them in our small way.
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I didn’t know that lion numbers have reduced so dramatically. I liked your poem, Robbie.
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I didn’t either. Our game ranger mentioned this and I then looked it up when I go home to check it.
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Such beautiful creatures… shame for their vulnerability.
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It is, but there are people trying to do something about it. We visit and support financially when and where we can.
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I was hoping you’d say in your poem something like ……..’I ate my dumb owner and now am free’!
I’d have trouble sleeping with those Lions bellowing!
I bet you’d like a Cheetah as a house pet If It could stay small.
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HI Wayne, sadly, if the tiger ate the owner (which would probably be quite reasonable in my opinion) they would put it down. This is my version of the true story. Nothing bothers my sleep, but I did rush up to video the sound because I enjoyed it very much. They are very communicative and sociable animals. The baby cheetahs, lions (I’ll share next week), and leopards are adorable. I’m glad you enjoyed this post, Wayne. I often think of you when I do on African adventures. I think how lucky you are to be living your dream all the time.
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We each are living our dreams Robbie. I fell into this,no design required.
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Strangely enough, so did I, Wayne 😊
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our paths are never straight or well lite,but it is the path our feet find.
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It’s so sad to me that the populations of these big cats are in jeopardy. The work of these sanctuaries is critical. Thanks for sharing your experience, what you learned, and some great photos. I enjoyed your poem too – happy that the tiger has a mate. 😀
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Hi Diana, it makes me sad too. I like to support these places as much as possible and, of course, it is also amazing to see the animals. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem, I really feel for tigers, there are less than 4,000 left in the wild.
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I worry that someday there won’t be any.
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Love the poetry, it touched my heart for I can well imagine the confusion within the Tiger. ((( tiger ))). How wonderful that you were able to spend time with so many beautiful beings. I am so grateful that you take the time to share. ❤
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Hi Annette, I am glad my readers enjoy these posts. I like to share about nature and conservation. I always feel bad when I learn about animals that owners don’t want anymore. They literally tell the sanctuaries that if they don’t take them, they will be shot.
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A wonderful experience for you, Robbie but sad about the abandoned animals.
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A lot of people are ignorant about the requirements of a wild animal, Darlene. They buy the and then can’t care for them properly.
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I didn’t realize that lions are also suceptible to disease (among all the other things endangering them).
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Hi Liz, I didn’t know lions got TB. The guide told us and I looked it up at home. Animals in the wild struggle for survival (national parks are considered to be wild) as they are impacted by fires, floods, and drought. Animals are dying of starvation in drought stricken areas in Zimbabwe.
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It’s awful to see animals suffer like that.
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What a great organization! We have a couple large animal rescue parks here in CA – they’re my favorite places to visit.
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That’s great, Jan. it all helps these facilities to survive financially.
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Terrific edition of this series – great photos, and poetry too!
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I’m glad you enjoyed this post, John.
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I enjoyed all of the animals you photographed on Facebook. The leopard encounter with the spider was great. It’s interesting to watch animals figuring new experiences out.
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Hi Pete, I thought that baby leopard was very sweet. I was worried the spider might bite him, but it was all fine. They actually jump right up the fences and climb them.
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That is a big project undertaken , science assisting nature and the chance for you to see the animals up close in a setting not for entertainment.
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Yes, that is quite correct, Janet. Nature meets science.
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It’s heartbreaking to see those numbers decline, Robbie. But this is a wonderful post bringing awareness. Your photos are beautiful and your poem is very profound. Thank you for sharing.
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Hi Lauren, I am glad you enjoyed this post. The sad fate of many of Africa’s animals weighs on my spirit.
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A fascinating development of the doors theme
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Thank you, Derrick. Luckily, Dan allows plenty of latitude with these posts.
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A very true poem, Robbie. I’m sure if the tiger could write, it would tell us the same. Sad state of affairs, but at least he’s happy now. And thanks for sharing the videos and the pics. What a fantastic place!
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Thank you, Olga. This collection is going to be called Lion Scream and I am creating an artwork for the cover.
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Magnificent Robbie. Quite the trip. Sad about TB and the lions. And I didn’t know tigers weren’t from Africa either. Thanks for this share. ❤
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HI Debby, it is sad, but at least something proactive is being done and I can play a tiny role in that.
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Now that’s beautiful 🙂 x
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I laughed at the baby leopard experiencing a spider! Little beings are all the same when they see things for the first time, don’t you think?
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Yes, you are right and I enjoyed that video and those little guys (there are three) very much.
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