Hi LuluB - I've noticed a pattern in the late afternoons between 5 and 6: Ailsa strolls around the hay and lies on it while Dot eats most of it. Then by dusk, they lay down in their normal spot and Aisla nurses awhile. Occasionally I see Ailsa eat a little hay too. Here's hoping that the girls will return to the barn from the Drive Thru on a somewhat regular schedule so we all can learn when is the best time to check in -- assuming the inside camera keeps running. Btw, does Scotland have daylight savings time? 7:30 pm EST.
Ahah, have just managed to be the 500th person to comment on this site. I have read every single comment that has gone before yet this is my first entry. I have been a massive fan of the checkitlive website and have been watching the various activities for over a year. I recognise many of your names from watching Tira and Tumkur at Noahs Ark (very sad) although I am now pleased to be watching this great success story that is Dot and Ailsa, and will continue to watch. Well done to all involved with looking after these magnificent animals.
Just to say the 'Soil' is sand, and they probably would eat straw. They eat hay normally. Another problem with straw is it is very dusty and can cause problemswith breathing.
I watched two pheashants in there to-day, some rooks/crows and the blackbirds are visitors too. Ailsa looking tired tonight but not surprising the way she tears about.xxxxxxx
Given the chance, Ailsa does seem to prefer sleeping on the hay rather than the cold bare earth, at least until Dot eats the hay from under her! Wish they could be given straw bedding, but perhaps Dot would eat it all and get overweight.
Hi Marilyn, the rhinos are Dorothy (Dot), Graham, Jane, and Mazumba (Maz). Dot is the mother of Ailsa and Maz. If you click on the "Info" tab at the top of this blog page, it provides some background and the relationship between the rhinos.
Awwww just seen the weighing of Ailsa, well done guys.......what patience you all have........Ailsa didn't play up so much today, thanks for all you dedicated people do up there
11:55 pm Scotland. Glad to see the girls sleeping so peacefully. Can someone tell me whether Maz is Ailsa's sister or Dot's sister? And, about how old is Maz? How old is Grahm and Jane too?
Glad to see Dot and Ailsa again. I know the names are here somewhere, but what are the names of the other adults? I thought I read in here one is Ailsa's father, one is a sister to someone, and another is Dot's first girl?? Dot's sleeping while Ailsa's thinking about another nursing. 11:50 pm Scotland.
Watching Dot and Ailsa certainly does become quite addictive. I too was getting withdrawal systems, and so glad the cam is working again. Did anyone else see Ailsa charging the pigeons? Grrrr, such a big brave girl now!
Usually with the 6 hour difference I only see them winding down in their day or sleeping. Today up earlier than usual and enjoyed them. As the weather warms and the park is open, do they return to the barn every night or do they stay out in the yard 24/7. Thanks for your time.
Hooray, the camera is up and running again! Nothing to see at the moment though except for a few sparrows hopping round. Never mind, I'll catch the girls later.
OOOOOOOOOOOOH what a delight to wake this morning to find the camera working again, oh how I have missed seeing the girls.........thankyou so much, it's 6.22 and little one is having a feed.................
Thanks so much Ailsha - I seem to remember John mentioning she was leaving. When animals are shipped out for breeding do the females come back to you to have the baby or do they stay with the daddy? Will Maz meet her sister outside before she leaves your park? Thanks much for all you do for us and especially the animals. So good to see them up close again, thanks for attending to the cam!
Hi Dundee she, what you may have seen is the cobweb on the camera, sometimes it moves and at night it is more visible, It has just done it and I could see, how it might look that way x
16.56 pm. Thank you for getting the web cam up and running again - I was getting withdrawal symptoms! Ailsa is sleeping peacefully on a pile of hay...bless!
Thankyou Ailsa for your info..........am missing seeing Dot & Ailsa let's hope they can get the camera sorted soon, keep up the wonderful work you all do up there...........
thanks for that reply i think i saw dust when dot was getting comfy then a puff of dust sorry :o) ive missed them today so sad to hear maz is going away :o( here hoping the cam will be up and running tomorrow :o)
Dorothy, or Dot, the Southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum) was brought to Blair Drummond Safari Park from a reserve in South Africa in 2003, along with 2 other rhinos called Graham and Jane, to expand the European wide conservation program of this species. They generally don’t breed very well in captivity so every calf born is vitally important to maintaining a sustainable population. Dot, who is 9 years old, is the mother of our calf Mazoomba, or Maz, who was born at Blair Drummond in August 2007 and was a huge hit with staff and customers alike. Dot is now expecting her second calf sometime around mid-December, however with rhino this is not an exact science and our guess could be over a month out. But don’t worry, our head keepers will keep you updated with all the latest developments on the blog which can be found below the webcam images.
Rhino calves are usually born under the cover of darkness, with Maz appearing at sometime between 2 - 5am, so if you hope to catch it live it may be a long night. However a video of the successful birth will be posted on our website for you all to enjoy, if you can’t stay up that late! You may not be able to see the rhino usually between 9 - 11am most mornings as Dot is locked out of her indoor pen so it can be cleaned. If you cannot see her at other times she will be outside in her covered yard enjoying the fresh air. Due to this time of year and the cold temperatures, she will be closed in her indoor pen over night when we are expecting her to give birth, so we don’t risk the health of the new born calf.
Climate Details are not available for this camera.
From the cute and cuddly to farmyard friends and close encounters of a crawly kind, all the animals you meet, groom and hold at Crealy love people especially children and can't wait to meet you!
Marilyn
