Conserving Wild Animals In The Most Unexpected Places

You might not know it, but there are wild animals at OR Tambo International Airport

- Mientjie Kleinhans

I’m so excited. I just cannot contain myself. I’m jumping up and down with joy on the front seat and I cannot wait for them to start. Finally, my handler, Melissa Hofmann, senior wildlife officer, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), starts the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and we drive into the fields. The adrenalin rushes through my veins and the wind blows through my hair. I’m still jumping up and down.

My tongue hangs out of my mouth, my spit flying all over the place and onto the back seat – even onto the editor of Animaltalk. This is so exciting; I can’t wait to show her my moves in the grass.

Chasing birds When my handler stops I almost fly off the vehicle and into the tall grass. My natural instincts make me run in zigzag patterns, following the scent of rabbits or large birds. As an animal, I understand how easily we can get into trouble by wondering around looking for food. I want to prevent that happening to other animals, so I chase them into safer areas of the airport.

I turn around to see if Melissa is still following me, when I pick up another scent and I follow that scent, until I hear her whistle. This is my cue to lie down flat and wait until she catches up with me. I then jump back in the vehicle and off we go again.

That is basically how my awesome mornings and afternoons are spent. Come rain or shine, I chase birds for a living and I enjoy every moment of it.