Another sad afternoon.
Back with the dogs in the afternoon and One-eye was now showing full blown rabies symptoms. He wasn’t really hassling the other dogs but was tearing away at any bush in front of him. Again I had to make that hard decision and we put One-eye down.
The pack now sits at 9 dogs with Whisky being the only adult left in the pack. At sunset he took the pack off at a brisk pace west. We let them be.
This morning at dawn the pack were on the hunt again but unsuccessful. And it seems unsuccessful last night too. Although they all looked a little lean, the pack looked healthy as they rested up near Nhoro pan.
With my morale really down I left the dogs in the hope of finding other animal activity that would be more uplifting and provide me with a happier ending.
I knew elephants would be the answer, but where would I find them.
At Chekwa pan I found a few bulls drinking, including this bull with his shortened trunk that was cut off in a poachers wire snare. He was coping fine though. But that was hardly going to lift my spirits.
Moving on, at Lojaan dam I found Snorkel. He was in good shape and his breathing problem seeming to have disappeared. Alone, he was mud wallowing and enjoying himself.
I still needed more and left him to look for the herds.
Only once I’d done a full circle and was back at Lojaan did the herds come in to drink, swim and play. It was the most wonderfully calm scene as they bathed without a worry in the world and content to spend hours in the water.
After watching them for a couple of hours, as they moved on I felt totally revitalised and in a positive mood to go and visit the dogs again in the afternoon.
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