I Am Nearly Eaten By Hyenas

I was out this evening photographing this summer's celestial trio of Venus, Saturn and Mars in the western night sky of Mitzpe Ramon. The three planets have been making quite a showing this August in the evening sky just after sunset, and I wanted to capture their changing nightly positions in the splendidly dark and clear skies of the desert.

I have photographed them from within the town, from the promontory where the visitor center is at the edge of the crater, and this evening I decided to go to the Alpaca Farm and capture the planets among the hills and mountains of the high desert. I got some excellent photos which I think show off Mitzpe Ramon as an excellent stop for amateur astronomers, not surprising since Israel's largest research observatory is located in the mountains here, just outside of town.

Venus, Mars and Saturn as seen in the night sky above Mitzpe Ramon (Click for full size image.)

On the way back home, my car's lights picked up three animals skulking in the wadi about 200 yards from where I had been photographing. One animal went off to the right by itself, while the other two turned left and crossed the road in front of me, about a distance of 20 yards. At first I thought they were a pack of wolves, not uncommon in this area, especially near a farm where they can prey on farm animals and human garbage. But then I saw the pairs' striped bodies, hunched backs, trumpet-shaped ears and big barred teeth and realized I had happened upon a pack of hyenas.

Were they hunting me? Striped Hyenas are mostly solitary and eat carrion, although they are occasionally known to eat farm animals and wild boar. It is unusual to see a group of two, although they will sometimes travel in family packs. Had I happened on a family? Many predators can be found around the farms in the desert. They like easy, fast food as much as we do.

In any case, a mad hyena can be a frightful site, although these guys just ambled on over the hills after our encounter.

Striped Hyena in the mood for a fight (Source: Wikipedia)

I think in the future I will bring someone with me when I go to the Alpaca Farm at night.

Albino Baby Alpaca Born at the Alpaca Farm

An albino baby alpaca, a cria, was born at the Alpaca Farm on Tuesday. The owner woke to find the baby had been born at night and was walking around on its own by daylight. They didn't even know the mother was pregnant. An alpaca pregnancy lasts almost a full year. The father, according to Rebecca, was "any random male." Sounds familiar. The female alpaca is an induced breeder, that is she ovulates in the presence of semen. A female is ready to breed again just two weeks after giving birth.

An albino baby alpaca born on June 29, 2010 at the Alpaca Farm in Mitzpe Ramon.

A newborn albino cria, blue eyes and red nose.

Alpaca albino's mother lying in with her cria.

A "random" alpaca kisses my hand near the mom and cria. That's how these things get started.

Picking Alpaca Fleece

Rebecca spent the day picking alpaca fleece. This is the process by which tangles, matts and debris are removed from the alpaca wool prior to further processing. It is a slow, tedious and never-ending hand process, but it must be done. It is also done to sheep's wool before it is further processed. Who knew how much work goes into just making the yarn that is used in our clothing!

This is not Rebecca, but it is all I could find on picking alpaca wool.

  

Rebecca O'Sunnybrook Farm Meets the Alpaca Farm

Our teen-age friend from Englewood, Rebecca, has come to Mitzpe Ramon to work at the famous Alpaca Farm for the summer. Rebecca is not really from Sunny Brook Farm, but she is a tall, lanky, fresh-faced young woman who could well have come from Sunny Brook Farm. She loves animals, especially horses. Mitzpe Ramon, a desert far from the high mountain passes of the Andes, does indeed, unlikely as it may seem, have a large Alpaca Farm which has been here for about 25 years. In addition to alpacas they keep llamas, donkeys, horses, camels, and a large variety of dogs. The alpacas and llamas, over 400 in all, are farmed for their hair which is sheared and used like lamb's wool in making textiles. Nothing is killed, milked, or separated from its calves at the Alpaca Farm. All is peace and bucolic desert tranquility. There is also an excellent B&B on the farm for those who prefer a more rustic desert stay when in the area.

A small herd of alpacas at the Alpaca Farm in Mitzpe Ramon (click for full-size image.)

In addition to alpaca and llama husbandry, the farm entertains tourists who come to see the exotic animals and also ride the horses. The llamas are sometimes saddled up for children to ride as well. Some of the alpacas and llamas wander loose on the farm, and I remember the first time I came, seeing a pair rolling in the desert dust to clean themselves, looking large enough to be bears wrestling. Indeed, a full-grown llama can weigh up to 450 pounds.

Rebecca with a small, young, recently sheared alpaca

Rebecca with her favorite - the horses

Rebecca's main job for the summer is to help train the new herd of 16 llamas the farm acquired from Chile this spring. The young llamas have to be socialized and doing this requires catching one first (if you can, adds Rebecca), hooking a lead to its halter and then walking it around. I don't know if more is required, but I am sure I'll find out as the summer progresses.

A llama, up close and personal

A wide assortment of dogs are on hand, most lazing around in the summer sun. But when the sun sets the action begins for the big farm dogs who are tough enough to protect the animals from desert wolves and foxes (not to mention Bedouin) that prowl the farm at night. (Our cousin-in-laws cattle farm in Tekuma has had both dogs and cattle killed by Bedouin at night.)

A desert farm dog sleeps by day, dreaming of the chase by night

When it gets too hot, the dogs find a nice puddle of water and lie in it. 

A freshly sheared alpaca

An odd family resemblance between the desert camel and the high-mountain llama.

After doing llama training on her first day, Rebecca set to work cleaning the animals' sick shed on her second day. Among the residents was a one-eyed llama with maggots in its eye socket (I don't know if this is therapeutic or what!). I think this is the job they give you to find out of you really like working on a farm. The room, actually a stable for sick animals, hadn't been cleaned or organized for a long time, and in addition to organizing and cleaning all of the paraphernalia, Rebecca had to sweep out the stalls. 

In any case, after a long day at the farm one can always relax and walk along the rim of Machtesh Ramon. Needless to say, Rebecca went to sleep early tonight.

No, Mom, it's not nearly as dangerous as it looks!