Daily Archive for May 15th, 2007

Rabies claims another wild dog: Video

One-eye is the latest rabies victim.
Back with the wild dog pack in the afternoon, all were happily resting except for One-eye who was restless rolling around in the grass. Then on several occasions he would run after one of the pups and torment them. He never hassled Whisky.
These signs were already beginning to look like rabies.
Before sunset the dogs were off at pace, being led by Whisky. They truly looked like a perfect pack all in tune with each other.
We lost them on the chase but found them feeding on an adult male impala. At this time of year these adult males are worn out from the rut and so are easy targets for the dogs.

Impala kill
The pack fed till after dark. A single hyaena waltzed in and thought it could just take over. But the Mupanigawa pack were having none of it and One-eye managed to get a good bite to its backside. The hyaena left in a hurry. Hopefully with a bite from One-eye it too doesn’t go down with rabies.
The pack finished off the kill and all left with huge stomachs except for One-eye. He hardly fed and was battling to swallow, although I did notice he was getting some food down.

Finishing touches
Early in the morning the pack moved north east and rested up at the den the Alpha female had dug a few days before her death. They were obviously looking for her and Whisky kept calling. It’s just so sad to see them miss their friends like this.
One-eye was now show definite signs of rabies. He was extremely restless biting at branches and hassling the other dogs on an on going basis.
Unfortunately we’ll probably have to put him down too before he infects any more dogs.

Chidumu C No.7

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Chidumu C 7

This hunter looks like he is just about to throw his spear.

Tjololo 14th May 2000

The Tjololo Diaries

14th May 2000
Picking up on Tjololo where the Mala Mala rangers had left him he headed off hunting.
We had him all lined up on some impala, cameras ready, lights ready and as he took off the impala ran behind some bush and we missed it all.
Conditions have to be so perfect for us to successfully film a kill. Something only time will provide.
Tjololo killed an adult female impala and while feeding a lioness approached. Hearing her he shot up a tree with the carcass.

The lioness ran in and fed on some stomach contents that had fallen, but with Tjololo growling at her she moved off. He later left the tree and on landing the lioness jumped in the grass to scare him sending him scattering into the bush.
She very clumsily climbed the tree, but was unable to get to the carcass and left the tree almost falling on the way out.
Some time later another 3 lions arrived on the scene. One managed to get a hold on the head of the impala and pulled. The impala’s hips were wedged in a fork of the tree and the carcass didn’t budge, not even when the lioness ended up dangling while hanging onto the impala until she eventually fell. But like all cats, she landed on her feet.
The lions rested in the area for several hours and then moved on.
Tjololo ended up with his carcass to himself and graced the Mala Mala guests with his presence.