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Machapisho37 Picha1767 Ramani Takwimu

The Birds' Ark is growing

Imechapishwa: 01.05.2018

Jiandikishe kwa Jarida

Now we have been in Indonesia for almost 4 months and it is amazing how quickly things change. When I recently thought back to our first days, it felt like ages ago. At first everything was new, unfamiliar and in some cases foreign. And now we walk through the zoo and we are greeted by everyone, some shout 'Hello Roy and Tina' or wave happily from a distance. We know who we can top up our mobile credit with, where the nearest motorcycle workshop and hairdresser are, and when shopping we know the selection, prices, and opening times. And in the restaurants sometimes they already know what we will have - but maybe that's because we often eat the same things. In addition, I am a regular guest with the seals (or 'hang out' there on my day off :D) and we play football with some people from the park once a week. But what surprised me the most in my mental review is how naturally we take on our work routine. For more than 5 weeks now, we have been 'managing' the Birds' Ark on our own, as Stephan and Carola are on vacation in Germany. We make decisions, overcome problems, organize, and document. Even though we are constantly faced with new tasks and problems, it's a lot of fun! Or maybe that's precisely why. After all, you grow with your tasks. And the experiences we gain from it are very valuable!

Since we have been here, a lot has happened at the PCBA (Prigen Conservation Breeding Ark), so today I would like to give an update on the Birds' Ark. I have also put together some before and after photos (which took half a day and almost drove me to despair🤬)

But let's start from the top:

This is still our parking space when we arrive at work in the morning. Roy is always so excited when I take photos of him ;)

The main entrance is being built here. The area is now fenced and secured with barbed wire and there are street lights. Please go ahead:

Above the bird enclosures a office building with office, meeting room, kitchen and toilet is being built. In front of it, a small parking lot for visitors is to be created (besides zoo people and interested tourists, groups such as school classes, etc. are also supposed to visit for environmental education and species protection. We hope that this will be kept to a minimum, as we want to avoid any unnecessary disruptions for the birds).

Right next to the office is the security watchtower, which will be staffed 24/7. Even with its own toilet below.

And from there we have had this great view of building 1 and 2 for a few days. On the upper picture building 2 is still under construction. Let's move on to the bird enclosures:

This is actually the most extreme change: At first we had to fight our way through the bushes to get to the birds. Now we have a big staircase, which is even going to get a handrail (for some reason).

At the bottom: This is what building 2 looked like 4 months ago (left). And now it's finished (right) and almost every aviary is inhabited.

And also in terms of hygiene, a lot has improved with the completed building 2! :)

And once again a view from below of building 1, the security tower and the office, and our own moat. The fence with barbed wire is on the right in the picture. However, I wonder why the barbed wire is tilted inwards and not outwards. It makes no sense to me, but hopefully the Indonesians have a good reason for it. And let's continue with the pigs:

Through the lower gate you enter the Java warty pig enclosure belonging to PCBA. The enclosure is located outside the fenced area, but I hope no one will just take the pigs away. Indonesians or Muslims, for that matter, do not like pigs, as they are considered unholy and unclean, and it is even forbidden to eat pork. On the right in the picture is a metal hut whose function I do not know, and behind it is the current security building, which is supposed to be converted into a residential building at some point. The area on which the two buildings stand is also supposed to become pig enclosures later on. The residential building will then be surrounded on 3 sides by the pig enclosure.

And this is the first part of the pig enclosure. Java warty pigs are highly endangered and are to be bred here.

One of the two outdoor enclosures for the pigs. A total of 5 enclosures with corresponding stables are planned.

But not only the buildings have changed. Since I suffer from chronic vegetable deficiency here, I started growing my own vegetables. Right now they are just plants, but since everything grows much faster here, we will hopefully be able to harvest tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and pumpkins soon. Seger has also planted chillies and I am also trying my hand at growing oranges, passion fruit, and apples. I have also received various herb seeds from Germany (more on that later), so I will be growing more herbs besides cress soon. Since our birds mainly eat papaya and are already eating us out of house and home, we have papaya plants everywhere on the premises, so that maybe someday we can live semi-autonomously (at least when it comes to papayas).