With technology getting the better of us yesterday I only got out late on the trail of the Nduna pride, still without getting the blog out.
When we found the Nduna pride in the south on the Mahande river they were flat-out with no intentions of moving. It was only around midnight that Manyari managed to get the pride on the move. They’re all looking rather lean and probably haven’t eaten for a week or so, this obviously adding to their lethargic state.
When a Civet popped its head out ahead of them it had little chance. They didn’t chase it far and caught it. Well so it sounded. I was too far back to see but somehow the Civet got away. Were the lions surprised by the sound or did the Civet emit one horrible smell that sent the lions packing? Whatever it was the Civet was left to live another night even though the lions are hungry.
The lion’s activity was short lived. And so it went on for the rest of the night, moving about a kilometre and then resting.
At dawn they awakened again moving in fits and starts.
While resting a couple of buffalo bulls wandered almost on top of them. They gave chase in earnist but the bulls got away.
We left them flat-out with the sun baking down on them and us.
A few days ago an elephant bull was found with a broken back leg and was put down. It’s thought he might have broken it while fighting. Hyaenas and vultures were making the most of the remains this morning.
16th November 2000
Tjololo and his girl had finished off their “tenderized” meal and slowly headed south mating as they went. She was fine when it was dark but as it got light she became very weary of us again and Tjololo was missing out on some precious times, so we left them to it.
The afternoon didn’t happen, as I suddenly had to rush off to a meeting.
My morning started off with those dreaded interviews for the Series. Each episode I need to do narration and still can’t get my head around enjoying it. Well I suppose it’s not that I don’t enjoy it but always get frustrated in getting my voice right for the scenes it’s needed in.
Then it was out after elephants. They were still hanging out where I’d left them yesterday, south of Nduna. There’s a flush of good food in the area and with all the rain that fell there last week, all the pans are full.
By 9am it was already hot and One-tusk and her family were chilling in the shade of a knobthorn tree. They weren’t interested in venturing from there except to wallow close by and then back to the shade. Of course getting hungry, but not wanting to move out the shade, the poor trees roots got a hammering being ripped up.
Being able to get up so close to One-tusk in the shade today I noticed she was blind in her left eye. How long has it been that way? Her trust for me was so amazing when she stood here next to me with her blind eye facing me and wasn’t in the least bit concerned.
I’ve often wondered if a totally blind elephant could survive. Their other senses are so good I’m pretty sure they could. Except in areas where lions have taken to killing elephants, like in Botswana.
I left the elephants early today to get a break before heading out for the night on the search for Manyari again.
Recent Comments