Welcome Phil.
See his responses below!

----- Original Message -----
From: Phil Minnaar
To: africanwildlife Moderator
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 7:14 AM
Subject: Re: File - 1-African Wildlife Poll.txt


Answers to your Questions:



1.. I am currently living in South Africa but might depart for Zambia or
Angola in the near future.
2.. I am male.
3.. I have 47 fantastic summers behind me.
4.. I am a born African.
A) I also work in S.A., Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique

B) After nearly 27 years in the African bush, yes, I had lots of very
interesting wildlife encounters, stories and experiences that I will gladly
share with other wildlife activists as both educational and humoristic.

C) When I was young, strong and exuberant, my favorite animal was the Sable
Antelope, but now that I am older and more relaxed, it has definitely changed to
the more docile Nyala Antelope. But since we discovered that the Giant Sable
Antelope of Angola was capable of surviving the 30 year Angolan Gorilla bush
war, I think my old love for the Sable might have returned.

5.. I once visited the United States for 4 and half months on business but
after 2 months I was home sick and longing to come home. So, I have decided that
leaving Africa is just as bad as visiting Africa only once. I believe that there
is only one cure for leaving Africa, as a citizen or visitor, is to return at
once.
6.. I like visiting Angola, the Caprivi in Namibia and Lesotho but if anybody
ask me what my favorite destination is, then I will not hesitate to tell them
everything about the Okavango Delta in Botswana. I flue there as a bush Pilot
for 5 years and if there is a better career or place, I would like to hear about
it.
7.. My favorite tree is the Welwitschia in the Namib Desert, Namibia.
8.. My career is a wildlife film maker
9.. I am interested in wildlife conservation and wildlife veterinary science
and research
10.. I do speak German fluently from the time that I worked in Namibia. In
Namibia, been an old German colony, a lot of people including black people, is
still speaking German.
11.. I also speak Fanagalo (the language the miners in South Africa speak
underground) and a little bit of Set-tswana from the time I was in Botswana.
12.. I would trade places with an African Kalahari male lion any day for
various reasons.
13.. a.) I do not read novels but I like to read the National Geographic
magazines and the Africa Geographic. b) I hear that the Wilbur Smith books are
good African novels and then I suggest the 2 magazines I mention in 13a.
14.. Yes, I have many African wildlife photographs and I will download some
of my photographs to your photo section
15.. Because I do a lot of traveling, I do not have a pet anymore. When I was
working in Namibia, I had 4 Suricates as pets and when I was working in the
Eastern Caprivi, I had first 2 Banded Mongooses and then a group of 23 adopted
me as their friend?, father?, mother?, or maybe their companion. I always had
Birds or reptiles or animals to care for. I had a Black Sparrow Hark, Giant
African Eagle Owl, Augur Buzzard, many a Dove, African Pythons, Gecko's,
Squirrels, Baboons, once a baby Kudu, a Zebra, Oryx calf's, Warthog piglets,
Lion Cubs and the highlight of my career is certainly the day when I rescued a 5
day old baby White Rhino. It is strange, but my first night in Fresno,
California, and a badly injured Opossum ended up on the front porch where I was
staying. So I helped him.
16.. I was born like this.
17.. I am the Chairperson of a non-profit wildlife veterinary science and
research organisation.
18.. We specialising in supporting young wildlife research student from all
over the world to come to Africa and do there wildlife thesis for their
doctorate degrees in animal veterinary science. Our organisation supports its
research member's wherever they are doing a wildlife research project in Africa.
We are also in-touch with various wildlife research organisations in Africa and
we will assure that our members get the best-suited research project allocated
to them. We supports our field researchers with the best 4x4 vehicles on the
market with all relevant research equipment and camping items to make sure that
their time to research is more pleasant. Radio and satellite communications are
provided with a personal satellite tracker for there personal safety. With a
wide verity of aircraft's to our disposal and Commercial bush pilots that has
thousands of flying hours and experience, we can cater for any emergency
throughout the African continent. We are constantly in touch with the worlds
leading wildlife scientist and researchers that are supporting our organisation
in many ways. Our members also have access to all our wildlife biologist,
researchers, professors and veterinarian. We also have a database on our
web-site for any wildlife research questions and answers. We are, registered
with the South African department of SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT and THE HUMAN SCIENCE
AND RESEARCH COUNCIL.
19.. Yes, I love watching Nat. Geographic (Africa), Animal Planet and if
Discovery Channel broadcast a wildlife program, I will watch that too.
20.. I rate the wildlife documentaries of Derrick and Beverly Joubert the best
to watch because of the uniqueness of their work and the enormous amount of time
and afford they put into it. Their films are: "Patten's in the grass", "Africa's
lost river", "Predators" and the story of an elephant orphan that was adopted by
surrogate Elephant cow and her own little baby.


With kind regards

Phil Minnaar.



africanwildlife Moderator <africanwildlife-owner@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

I am hoping we can get to know eachother better. Perhaps some of us can
journey to Africa together someday or meet those that are already in Africa.

All answers are optional so please only answer those you are comfortable
doing.

1)What state or Country are you living in now?

2) What is your Gender?

3) Age Range? Teens, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's etc?

4) Have you every been to Africa?

a) If so which parts of Africa?


b) Did you have any interesting wildlife encounters?

c) What animals did you enjoy seeing the most?

5) Would you like to go to Africa?

6) Which places in Africa would you like to visit ever or again?

7) What African Animals or Plants do you find the most interesting?

8) Is your job/career anything to do with wildlife?

9) Are you interested in ecology or wildlife conservation?

10) Do you know any foreign languages?

11) Have you ever tried to speak any of the indigenous African Languages?

12) If you could trade places for a year with any African animal which one or
ones would you pick?

13a) Have you read any good books or websites that pertain to African
Wildlife?
13b) If so can you suggest any to us?

14a) Do you have any African Wildlife photos?
14b) If so will you consider uploading some samples to our photo section?

15) Do you have any pets?

16) What do you think got you interested in African Wildlife?

17) Do you belong to any African Wildlife type of organizations?

18) If so please tell us about them.

19) Are their any TV shows you watch that deal with African Wildlife?

20) Are there any good movies or videos on African Wildlife we should check
out?

Please feel free to add any other information you'd like us to know like your
adventures, if you are single, if you are wanting to ever live in Africa, if you
have thought about being an wildlife rehabilitator, or whatever else you think
may be of interst.

Please forward your answers to africanwildlife@yahoogroups.com THANKS!
That's all the questions I can think of for now but pleae feel free to tell us
much more about yourself so that we can have a closer community.







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