Galloping in the Moonlight

Peaceful Baba
Tonight I went out to check on the camels around midnight. The bright moon was high and the wind was brisk and blowing about.

I found all the camels eventually and started heading out across the pasture. Running across the moonlit fields I was suddenly surrounded by nine camels of different sizes and colors, all cantering, trotting and galloping along with me, weaving in and out of the trees, kicking out, snorting and bucking at shadows, swaying branches and rustling trees.

Big Peaceful Baba kept appearing beside me from out of the night just in time to block one of the other camels from getting in too close around me. A few times I thought Peaceful might bump me but he didn't. Its spontaneous moments like these that I like to capitalize on to deepen the bond. The camels enjoy and feel this as much as I do, I think.

Carolyn Resnick

Her method is the 7 waterhole rituals that she learned as a member of a wild horse herd when she was in her pre-teens. Her method comes down to a family of rituals that comprises a healthy herd culture... being present, "hello", taking space, leading from behind, eye contact, table manners, companion walking, forming the bond at liberty...

It's foundation is love, trust, respect and no separative or manipulative, agenda -- being in the moment, being a leader who listens, yields, follows through, is firm yet bends... Carolyn isn't a conventional horse trainer... she's really actually a horse! a herd member, and a consummate herd leader.

Stuart

HiHo on the Highway

After several months of intensive, firm, but gentle interaction with HiHo, he is now relating with the other camels and with people in a much happier and more respectful manner. Thanks to Carolyn Resnick's method of herd acculturation even a classical "pirate and joker" such has HiHo is now well on the road to herd integration and participation, with no loss of his spark for life.

HiHo needs still more time and maturation, and appropriate guidance, but he is doing so much better, and is also much more content and happy within himself. And the other camels are finally accepting him to participate with them.

Purnimama's New Calf

On Friday May 16 at about 8am Purnimama gave birth to our third baby camel of the year. Mother and baby are doing well. The baby, named "Not-Two Mama", is a female, of cream-gray coloration. This is Purni's first baby. She is proving to be a good mother.

The three mothers move about and camp down together in a loosely-knit pod. The babies follow closely, playing and cavorting with one another and with their much larger aunts and uncles. The mothers share the child-rearing responsibilities, spelling each other from time to time, suckling one another's babies. Two of them are first time mothers, and clearly having to adjust to their new responsibilities. They can no longer be as carefree as before. Purnimama has undergone a remarkable change in her relational capacity. Once very shy and timid she is now steady, forceful, grounded and personable.

Google Mama, the matriarchal herd leader, while introducing herself to the other two calves, clearly impressed the two new mothers that both their new babies are also hers, that she is ultimately in charge of all the young ones. Purnimama accepted this without difficulty. Muffin argued a little before yielding to the herd matriarch. Google Mama has her attention on all three babies, frequently connecting with them and guiding them.

Stuart

The Camels' Favorite Vet

Dr. Lisa Takesue DVM has been looking out for our camels for about five years now, helping us through some tough issues at times.






Dr. Takesue's office manager, Isa, getting to know Peaceful Baba on a recent visit.