ESTHER: “OK guys, I’ve got some fresh goat milk here for you to share!”

SHEBA: “Good! We’ve been waiting for ages, sitting so pretty over here!”

SHEBA: “Hey! That’s not fair! Why does HE get the first sip??”

ESTHER: Because Dennis needs to gain weight, while you’re the healthiest looking dog in town, Sheba!

SHEBA: “Very well, Dennis.  Move [...]

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Piroplasmosis is a tricky disease, and more common in the Zinder area today than ten years ago. All of our horses have had piroplasmosis at this point - with the fillies being treated during my absence in Sweden. Kalahari is looking great these days (round as a barrel) but I was wondering why Isolde took [...]

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When I stepped out of the office a few nights ago, I was met by a stunning display of colours and sky activity. It was too late for those fabulous shots, but not too late to enjoy.

Wanting to give my dog some quality time, I took her to Aichatu’s to play with her new best [...]

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After a few days in Zinder (settling in and adjusting to the heat & humidity), it’s time to look back at that first Saturday morning when we woke up at Ishtar’s Ark for the first time in three months!

Sheba was still at the office (I didn’t want to pick her up late at night, remove [...]

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My last African Skywatch was in June.

We were just a few days short of leaving for Sweden,

and took the dogs out for one last long walk.

Sheba loves skywatching as much as we do, which is probably because we love it so much. It’s always an excursion, and the show never ends until the sky is [...]

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Due to a past record of aggressive behavior, I don’t compliment our adopted Dennis Mugu (especially not after the Nefertiti Incident!) as often as our other pets. But in the light of fairness, I must give it to him to be a fabulous guard dog and a wonderful guinea fowl chaser (and he has improved [...]

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Our once-upon-a-time baby Rhodesian ridgeback puppy from Sweden, who flew with me to Niger, has grown!

Sheba (Ridgebow’s Radiant Reya of Navy) is simply not a little girl anymore!

Knowing we wouldn’t be there for her monthly birthday, we celebrated with some fresh goat milk. There are few things our dogs love as much as fresh goat [...]

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Sheba’s heat season is finally over and Dennis Mugu is back at Ishtar’s Ark, after spending nearly two weeks with the lovely Donja, my brother’s dog.

He was happy to be back and instantly made himself at home under our big jiga tree.

For a dog that doesn’t like to bathe (and that would be all dogs [...]

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The first rain of the season offered a comfortable break from the humid heat that had been going on for the past two weeks, as well as a garden full of naturally showered animals!

The critters themselves were happy with the change of temperature, but some of them (Dennis Mugu in particular) voiced their protest against [...]

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Those of you who have been following this blog for quite some time now will most probably remember my fruitless efforts to adopt an abandoned kitten in my yard after rigidly having walked past six other kitten-cases that all ended tragically.

Nefertiti DanMusa 2008
Despite the fact that I have never been a cat person, beautiful [...]

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Enjoying another sunset in the bush

Some of Zinder’s many rock formations…

The acacia trees of the Zinder outback

This tall and elegant grass kept moving with the wind and wouldn’t stay still for the camera… Beautiful nevertheless!

More vegetation…

Enjoying the dark in the company of our two dogs

Dennis Mugu in the dark

Skywatch [...]

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A typical working day morning at Isthar’s Ark…

It’s seven o’clock, and Anette and I have just enough time to greet all our animals before heading off to work!

The herd is waking up…

Sahara yawns,

…and then tells Isolde to get ready for school! No late sleep-ins for the youths of Isthar’s Ark!

Arwen does some early morning gymnastics…

…and [...]

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Sheba is six months today! Celebrating her fast development, here are some previously unpublished highlights from her short but very action-filled life!

Spending the first eight weeks with siblings, mother and grandmother at Ridgebow’s Kennel.

Adopted by a blond human and destined for a life in Africa!

Being called Sheba, although the official name will for always [...]

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A newborn within your own flock is an exceptional experience.

Although naturally less social than Isolde, our January baby Kalahari has already been imprinted by every individual of Ishtar’s ark.

Even Dennis Mugu feels responsible for her!

Sheba has made quite an effort to overcome her jealousy, and has found her role as a second (or third) caretaker, [...]

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When we came out this morning, Sahara had the most wonderful surprise for us!

She had given birth to a beautiful little filly!!!

Expecting in late January and having shown next to no signs of imminent birth, Anette and I were clueless of what was going on in our garden just a few hours before we came [...]

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