Katrina is proving to be very contrary regarding her new pills see last blog even though they seem to be virtually tasteless, she is now devoting all her brain power into pill avoidance. Initially she just took them in one of her favourite treats, apple juice, mango squash etc, but after a few days it dawned on her that that is what we wanted, so one by one they were rejected totally, or in the case of food items, scrutinised minutely for any sign or smell of adulteration before acceptance.
We have now resorted to doctoring her normal diet of foods with the minute amount of powdered pill she needs. Because she shares a pen with Kirsty, another female rhesus, her food also has to be treated as they will often swap food bowls. We just hope that she is missing enough of it on her inspections, to help her joints.
The baby Langur rescue from the shop blind in the last blog has proved worthwhile on another front. The shop owner who made the initial call, came to visit the Tree House monkeys and ended up donating a large second hand fridge to us for the monkeys fruit and veg. Fridges here are expensive and because of the power surges don’t last long, in this climate things like spinach, left out overnight, will be slime by morning.
Kirsty dipping into the pool a brief break in the monsoon wind and rains has meant more of the monkeys have been able to get back in the pool. During the rains the temperature of the water drops a few degrees and although just nice for humans the monkeys are not enthusiastic until it warms up a bit. In the sunny spells they have been throwing themselves in with gay abandon, glad too at the hopeful end to the rains.
If all goes well, another dog to join the tree house gang. There have been no replacements for the ones who succumbed to old age simply because we have to integrate any new dog with not only 16 cats, but avoiding stress and conflict with the 40 resident monkeys. Any local dog that does rarely get into our garden, causes complete mayhem and panic in the pens, fights often break out in frustration amongst the monkeys and its total chaos till we can catch and remove it.
Proud Bunty the new dog, named Bunty, was abandoned in the gate cage late at night and discovered in the morning as a trembling wreck. Not only is she of quite a timid nature but she is small and so fragile looking the monkeys didn’t even consider her appearance a threat, although at the moment some would be quite happy to eat her if they could! She has no fear or interest in the cats, or the half tame squirrels and birds in the garden.
At present she is terrified of women, although she is already o.k. with me at least, and we clearly don’t know what she has been through that would make her so frightened. Hopefully she will grow out of this and regain her confidence.
Sam our problem dog, who has brain damage following being attacked by humans, thinks she is great and has even been spotted playing with her. Our bitches are not so sure they want a rival, but with all the different animals they have accepted into the house, they have learned to take it , if grudgingly, in there stride.
