sarel_eloff

Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) mural by @sonnysundancer . Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape. November 2024. @seawalls_ @pangeaseed @saveourseasfoundation @sj_artists_ #streetart #graffiti #graffitiart #mural #muralart #muralist #wallart #urbanart #artist #streetartist #onthestreet #streetphotography #capetownstreetart #capetowngraffiti #zebrashark #gardens #capetown #westerncape #southafrica

Found some treasures yesterday… Prince Albert, Great Karoo, Western Cape. November 2024. #treasure #treasures #porcelain #brokenporcelain #vintageporcelain #shards #foundobjects #foundtreasures #smallpleasures #collector #collecting #foraging #onemanstrashisanothermanstreasure #stories #princealbert #greatkaroo #westerncape #southafrica

This is the skull of a domestic cat. It was murdered. Around four years ago, shortly after moving to this town, I discovered the bodies of two cats in a dry river bed right next to a gravel road, barely 5km outside town. I went back to the same spot many months later, and all that remained was this skull, which I noticed upon closer inspection, had a bullet hole in it… This leads us to the very recent murder of another cat named Tommie Burger. He was a beautiful and very beloved cat of Hans and Marina Burger, who live just up the road from us. Tommie was a neutered, good natured and talkative cat. He was also well fed and well looked after. Tommie went missing on Thursday 26 September. Hans and Marina searched everywhere for the next two days. They alerted friends and neighbors. But Tommie was nowhere to be found. On Sunday the 29th, there was a knock on their door. It was Di Van Der Riet Steyn and her husband Mark, who confessed that they might have killed Tommie by mistake, thinking that he was feral, and that they had buried him on their property. Hans and Marina insisted to see their cat immediately and - after he was exhumed by the Steyn’s gardener, their worst fears were confirmed. It was indeed Tommie, who had been trapped in a cage since Thursday, without food or water, and then illegally and cruelly euthanized on Saturday by Glenda, a member of PADS. (She’s not qualified or authorized to euthanize animals). The schedule 6 drug/poison was supplied to PADS by a yet unnamed Vet. An autopsy revealed that Tommie was euthanized improperly by injection into the organs, which caused a horrific and painful death. It only took the actions of a few entitled individuals to take the life of an innocent and helpless animal, robbing its owners of a much loved member of their family. Entitled, heartless, arrogant, cruel, ruthless, selfish, thoughtless, criminal, lawless individuals. We are fully in support of Hans and Marina in their very difficult time of mourning, and in their quest to seek justice, and we sincerely hope that the perpetrators of this heinous deed will be punished accordingly. This of course will never bring back Tommie Burger…😿

Landscape with a number plate on a fence and a cloud… Prince Albert, Great Karoo, Western Cape. October 2024. #landscape #landscapes #landscapephotography #karoolandscape #numberplate #fence #cloud #swartbergmountains #princealbert #greatkaroo #karoo #karoolove #westerncape #southafrica

Despite receiving some very good early winter rains, there was very little follow-up rain during the past few months. The veld is parched at the moment and in much need of the first summer rainfall… Prince Albert, Great Karoo, Western Cape. October 2024. #parchedlandscape #landscape #landscapes #landscapephotography #arid #dry #semidesert #bringontherain #princealbert #greatkaroo #karoo #karoolove #landofthirst #westerncape #southafrica

Window cat seen today… Prince Albert, Great Karoo, Western Cape. September 2024. #windowcat #windowcats #windowsillcat #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #kitty #windowkitty #feline #catsrule #catlove #princealbert #greatkaroo #westerncape #southafrica

Aloe claviflora (Kraalaalwyn/Kanonaalwyn/Kraal Aloe) looking stunning this year… Prince Albert, Great Karoo, Western Cape. September 2024. #aloeclaviflora #kraalaalwyn #kanonaalwyn #kraalaloe #landscape #landscapes #landscapephotography #karoolandscape #aloes #details #aloeflowers #princealbert #greatkaroo #karoo #karoolove #westerncape #southafrica #nature #naturephotography #naturalist

Yesterday afternoon along the R407… Prince Albert Road, Great Karoo. August 2024. #ontheroad #sundaydrive #roadtrip #roadtrippin #roadtripping #springflowers #fieldsofflowers #gazania #felicia #daisies #nature #naturephotography #landscape #landscapes #landscapephotography #karoolandscapes #karoolove #greatkaroo #r407 #princealbertroad #westerncape #southafrica

It’s International Cat Day…😻 Had to share a few images of our beloved furry friend Toulouse… Time spent with cats is never wasted. Prince Albert, Great Karoo. August 2024. #internationalcatday #furryfriends #felinefriends #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catlove #feline #felines #superior #beloved #princealbert #greatkaroo #westerncape #southafrica

I recently cleaned the windows of our house, which had been long overdue… A few days later I found two dead birds below one of the kitchen windows…😢😢 One was a Red-billed Quelea and the other a male Malachite Sunbird (Jangroentjie) in breeding plumage. I suspect that they had both collided with the window. I’m always saddened when this happens, especially if they do not survive the impact. I did some research, and one very good solution to prevent birds flying into windows would be to draw vertical lines 10cm (4 inches) apart on the outside of the window with a white marker pen. I shall certainly try this idea… Here are some details of this beautiful bird, and our cat Toulouse later perching on the surface I used as a backdrop… Prince Albert, Great Karoo, Western Cape. July 2024. #malachitesunbird #jangroentjie #breedingplumage #deadbird #windowkill #details #closeups #birdstudy #birds #birding #birder #birdlife #gardenbirds #naturalist #malachite #princealbert #greatkaroo #karoo #karoolove #westerncape #southafrica

A few more from a spectacular hike a few days ago… Prince Albert, Great Karoo, Western Cape. July 2024. #hike #hiking #mountainhike #nature #naturephotography #naturalist #landscape #landscapephotography #details #observations #closeups #indigenousflora #botany #princealbert #greatkaroo #karoolove #westerncape #southafrica

Trapsuutjies…it’s been awhile… Climbing this beautiful and rugged mountain never disappoints. Spectacular landscapes and an absolute delight for botany enthusiasts. Thanks @col_karoo Prince Albert, Great Karoo, Western Cape. July 2024. #hike #hiking #mountain #landscape #landscapes #landscapephotography #nature #naturephotography #naturalist #gamkariver #swartbergmountains #gamkapoortdam #walkinnature #princealbert #greatkaroo #westerncape #southafrica