30 Vol. 32, No. 1, January 14, 2016 52 Ingestre Street, PO Box 325, Wanganui. Phone 345 3666 or 345 3655, fax 345 2644, email [email protected] Searching for snow leopards in Afghanistan him of the latest security vodka. BY DOUG DAVIDSON risks.” But Ashley is committed “The local villagers are [ Ashley Vosper was in Wanganui re- friendly and are accepting with animals having being cently, with his wife Jenny, visiting Jen- of the project and of for- based in the Congo for up ny’s parents Trevor and Helen MacKay. eigners,” he says. They are to ten years specialising in Shia Muslims and distrust monkeys and even discov- He lives from April to for the New York based the Taliban who are Sunni ering a new species. After November in a village in World Wildlife Conserva- Muslims and so if there meeting Jenny in England Wakhan National Park tion Society. They do have was a threat, Ashley says, doing her OE, they came in Afghanistan searching solar power and he has “they would warn me. I to Wanganui to get mar- for snow leopards. When access to the internet and would grab my go-bag ried and for Ashley to winter strikes he has to to TV via a satellite dish. with passport and mon- study zoology and Ecol- get out as the tempera- The villagers were aware ey and cross the nearby ogy at Massey University. tures can get as low as of Afghanistan playing border with Tajikistan. I He describes himself as minus 20c and roads be- in the Cricket World Cup would be arrested and put half kiwi with his mother come unusable. in New Zealand early in in prison for a few days being a New Zealander. His assignment is “no 2015. However, this can but that would be a lot bet- After the Congo he was walk in the park.” He is have a downside he says, ter than being taken by the offered a desk job but he the only foreigner in the as much of the news is Taliban.” O[ [ O [ The range of food is lim- enjoy and what I am good trained experts working or daily emails advising ited. Much of it is grown at.” There was a possible for the animals, so regular job in Mongolia but the \ chance to observe a snow and rice. He has sheep or leopard won him over to goat meat once a month Afghanistan. with some onions and car- He says that the Wakhan rots. Any other food he National Park was set up has to bring in with him. [ Ashley and Jenny Vosper He admits that life can get for snow leopards. Ashley about 80 to 100 of them animals. Villagers will it does nothing to support boring working six days says that the leopards are with only 4,000 world- kill them in retaliation or the project which is reli- a week and no real social “very elusive,” and he is wide. Their habitat is high for their fur. While the Af- ant on funding arranged life apart from an occa- yet to see one. They esti- up and they hunt ibex but ghan government set up by the WWCS. sional bottle of Tajistan mate that the park hosts will also kill domestic the National Park in 2014, Continued on page 2 MANUFACTURERS OF TIMBER & METAL GATES & FENCES UÊ /LiÀÊ>ÌiÃÊEÊiVià UÊ iÌ>Ê>ÌiÃÊEÊiVià UÊ *ÃÌÃÊEÊ*ÃÌÊ >«Ã UÊ ÌÀ>ViÊ7>Þà UÊ ÕÌ>ÌVÊ>ÌiÊ"«iiÀà UÊ VViÃÃÊ-ÕÌà UÊ -iVÕÀÌÞÊiV}ÊEÊ>Ìià UÊ iiÀ>Ê*ÕÀ«ÃiÊiV} 6-/Ê"1,Ê 7Ê-"7,""Ê "7Ê" Ê -Ê," 370 Heads Road, Wanganui. Ph: (06) 344 6700, Fax: (06) 344 6793 www.heritagegates.co.nz RIVER CITY PRESS, THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 - 1 Check out what’s in this week’s RCP Te Araheke Mountain Bike tracks to be I admire people like Ashley and Jenny – see our front page story on officially opened this Sunday ‘Searching for snow leop- ards in Afghanistan’ – but A series of moun- I haven’t the courage to do tain bike tracks based what they do. It is a fasci- around Lakes Wir- nating life especially for itoa and Pauri will Ashley. We should arrange [ a public talk with him the this Sunday at 11am. next time he comes to Together the tracks are Whanganui. called ‘Te Araheke’ or A recent highlight for Doug Davidson, “the migratory path of me was having a lesson journalist@ the eel.” Those at the \ rivercitypress.co.nz opening will be offered 6). I enjoyed it so much sity; and to Chris Moisa a guided cycle tour in that I bought a lesson for for having his very read- different groups from my daughter in a four able novel published (page grandparents with their seater plane, so she could 18). grandkids through to take her partner and their A special plug for the Ar- the keen type mountain daughter. thritis Anniversary Amble, bikers in lycra. Follow- There are three articles which is on Monday, Janu- ing the ride there will on Summer Programme ary 25. Sonia and Murray be a BBQ. trips. The trip to the Paen- Crawford’s garden is one The tracks are family garoa Scenic Reserve of the gardens (page 8) friendly and children (page 5) is this Friday, the and so is our garden (Doug will be excited by the trip to the Rimutaka Rail and Marion Davidson). As range of ‘wild animals’ Trail is on Saturday (page the brochure says “this is a hiding behind trees 7) and ‘Night Spotting at garden with mature trees or even in the open. Bushy Park’ (page 4) is but no overall plan except Spokesperson Mark on Friday evening, Janu- that there must be room for Humphreys advises ary 22. the grandchild to ride his that there will be a bike and kick a football.” Congratulations to Jes- competition to see how sica Brougham who has Tickets to 11 gardens are many of these animals, a rowing scholarship at only $12 each and are One of a display boards children can see. Washington State Univer- available from the i-Site. at the start of the two The tracks have been blocks of tracks developed by mem- bers of the Wanganui described as beginner Searching for snow leopards Mountain Bike Club, through to intermedi- especially Rozy and ate. They have some in Afghanistan Frank Rawlinson, with interesting names such Continued from page 1 recently a large bomb the assistance of the as Alcatraz (can you While life in the vil- went off which shook Probationary Service. get out of it?), Katipo, lage has its challenges, the house they were The tracks are on land Lakes View, Dragons, Ashley regards the capi- staying in. administered by the Pauri and Jungle. These tal Kabul as much more Jenny, who works in District Council. tracks are particularly dangerous. He has to England as a nurse and The tracks at Wiritoa suitable for family rides attend conference there teacher of palates, says and Pauri are linked and Mark says that a and their accommodation she no longer worries by a short section of big reason for develop- is surrounded by 20 foot about Ashley’s situation, road via Scountlands. ing these tracks is “to high walls and numerous saying “there is nothing Those at Wiritoa are allow families to enjoy security guards. To at- I can do about it.” She mainly at intermedi- mountain biking close tend the conference they hopes to visit him in ate level. They include to Wanganui.” travel a different route the village this year, de- a River Run through To get the most out of at a different time each pending on the security ‘Eeyore ‘gully, named mountain biking, it pays day. When he was there situation. after the donkeys in a to join the club. Check nearby paddock. The their website or contact tracks at Pauri are Mark on 343 7445. Free Trialling the new track from left: Ken Pawson, Haig Elgar, Rozy Rawlinson. until you Spiritual wisdom on are 18. relationships Is there a secret to all with God! ance. You’ll learn new relationships? Find the A workshop based on ways to open your heart answers to common ques- the above booklet will be to love and enrich your tions of the heart includ- presented this month in relationship with God. ing the truth about Soul Whanganui, sponsored by This workshop is for mates, how to strengthen Eckankar NZ. Practical anyone wanting more Make an appointment today a marriage, and how to and spiritual tools will be love to give, more love know if a partnership is shared that have helped to get, and better relation- 06 345 3222 worth developing. others improve their re- ships with everyone in Discover wisdom on lationships. For example, their life. Visit us at Victoria House how to communicate bet- one of the spiritual ex- Sunday, January 24, 2–4 [ ercises included in this pm, Conference Room, 1a Rutland Street, Wanganui loved one dies, and how workshop may help you Community House. For to deepen your bond of break a pattern of poor more information call love with all life—and [- 344 7057. 2 - RIVER CITY PRESS, THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 Discarded fishing line a hazard to people, dogs and birds Local Castlecliff resi- become disorientated and ing it on the rocks, carry- dent, Claire Smit, walks had to be helped out of leading to death, possibly ing small scissors to cut her dogs down to the the tangled line.