Tag Archive for 'den'

Hyena Walkabout: Video

Published

on January 11, 2010

. 39 Comments Tags:adventure, africa, animal-kingdom, blogumentary, bush, bush-knowledge, conservation, Cubs, den, documentary, education, elephants, endangered-species, experience, film, filmmaker, flickr, GLTP, gonarezhou, Great-Limpopo-Transfrontier-Park, hunting, hyaena, hyena, IUCN-Red-List, malilangwe, narrowcasting, Open-Content-Alliance, pamushana, photos, podcasting, polls, predators, teach, video, waterhole, wild, wild dogs, wildcasting, wilderness, wildlife, wildlife-documentary, youtube, zimbabwe

It seems quite unnecessary for humans to have so many distractions in life, some which are pleasant and others that just waste our time.

I hope this year will be one with less of the latter and more of the useful ones, but more importantly just less distractions.

I think most people are back to the grindstone and gearing themselves for the long haul. I took the long road to find the dogs the other day while Kim was on holiday. We like to keep tabs on them to make sure they are still doing well. It took me two days to find them, but when I did they were up to their old sports and all eighteen dogs were doing well.

For the wild animals everyday involves one thing – survival. The hyena cubs are growing up now and are beginning to stretch their legs, widening their territory as they explore the lie of the land.

This last year, I’ve had the privilege of being with the cubs as they’ve grown up, as each one developed their own personality and this year I continue crossing the divide between man and wild animal.

Join us on the adventure, make your life an adventure and invite others to come along for the ride.

I’ll catch you on the flip side.

Mudcrawlers: Video

Published

Wildcaster

on November 25, 2009

in videopost

. 6 Comments Tags:adventure, africa, animal-kingdom, birding-african-birds, birds, blogumentary, bush, bush-knowledge, conservation, Cubs, den, documentary, ecotraining, education, elephants, endangered-species, experience, film, filmmaker, flickr, GLTP, gonarezhou, Great-Limpopo-Transfrontier-Park, hunting, hyaena, hyena, insects, IUCN-Red-List, kori bustard, malilangwe, mashable, narrowcasting, Open-Content-Alliance, pamushana, peace-parks, photos, podcasting, predators, teach, video, waterhole, wild, wild dogs, wildcasting, wilderness, wildlife, wildlife-documentary, youtube, zimbabwe

We’ve been cooped up taking shelter from the rain with no communications or internet for the last few days. It was quite pleasant waking up to the sound of rain pouring down and not having to be anywhere or do anything, but I was eventually itching to get out. So I eventually got to do a little photo commentary to pull us through - enjoy.

After a little wet weather the bugs are starting to make their appearance along with the flying ants. I shudder at the thought of the mosquitoes coming out in full force!

Animals know when the rain is coming; the hyenas prudently took shelter in the hills in expectation of the wet weather, but they still come down to the communal den during the evenings to socialize.

The elephant bulls are out and about looking for the high protein browse in the south of the reserve.

Just before the rains came I paid a visit to Nduna Dam and ran into a Kori Bustard walking the edge of the dam. They are huge birds and this one was not in a hurry to fly away as I was shadowing it.

Another great thing about summer is the summer visitor birds taking up residence on the reserve including the woodlands kingfisher with its expressive call.

Hyena Chop Stix: Video

Published

Wildcaster

on November 6, 2009

in videopost

. 26 Comments Tags:adventure, africa, animal-kingdom, blogumentary, bush, bush-knowledge, conservation, den, documentary, ecotraining, education, endangered-species, experience, film, filmmaker, flickr, GLTP, gonarezhou, Great-Limpopo-Transfrontier-Park, hunting, hyaena, Hyena cubs, IUCN-Red-List, kill, lions, malilangwe, narrowcasting, Open-Content-Alliance, pamushana, peace-parks, photos, podcasting, polls, predators, teach, video, waterhole, wild, wild dogs, wildcasting, wilderness, wildlife, wildlife-documentary, youtube, zimbabwe

The dark clouds have been rolling in over Malilangwe, but with nothing more than the promise of rain. It is November already and anytime from mid-month onwards we can expect the down pours to start. I can still remember last year, when I was caught in a heavy storm and the water was flowing straight through my clothes as I cautiously navigated the muddy roads– it makes one feel like a kid playing in the rain.

I’ve been getting some daily exercise walking up and down the hyena hill to check on the new den.

I eventually found the two older mothers using a den right on the top of the hill in a different den than I thought previously. When I first spotted one of the older cubs roaming the hill I used my “special call” to attract their attention so they wouldn’t freak out by my presence. They came straight away to inspect and then strolled over to a crack in the rocks.

I followed and took up a position on a nearby rock. One big mother then came out the den to see what new clan member had arrived; surprisingly, she was completely relaxed with me being there. I stayed for the morning to observed and take photos and get them used to me being around the new den.

The hyenas and wild dogs had a huge confrontation South of Manyuchi two mornings ago, but nothing serious enough for them to eat each other.

I received an update on Magwaza the lioness and her three cubs. They were hanging around Chitindigova Hill just North of Bandama Pan, always in the hills these lions, the cubs are growing strong and the ex-Nduna lioness is still mixed up with the pride with one other lioness. This unknown lioness seems to be lactating, which means there might be some more little ones on the way. It may be too soon to jump to conclusions, there is really no way to tell for sure, unless some mad person climbs into the hill to take a look. I think I might camp out in my vehicle over next few days to see what I can spot.

Pin the Tail: Video

Published

Wildcaster

on October 31, 2009

in videopost

. 6 Comments Tags:adventure, africa, animal-kingdom, blogumentary, bush, bush-knowledge, conservation, den, documentary, education, endangered-species, experience, film, filmmaker, flickr, GLTP, gonarezhou, Great-Limpopo-Transfrontier-Park, hunting, hyaena cubs, hyena, IUCN-Red-List, malilangwe, mashable, narrowcasting, Open-Content-Alliance, pamushana, peace-parks, photos, polls, predators, teach, video, waterhole, wild, wild dogs, wildcasting, wilderness, wildlife, wildlife-documentary, youtube, zimbabwe

I was standing on top of a rocky hill where the hyenas had crept into overlooking the northern section of the reserve and some ominous looking clouds blanketed the sky as I enjoyed the toposcope view.

I was just thinking how quickly the year has gone and how it’s so important to savor every moment. “Do what you love… and you’ll never work another day in your life,” my friend always said to me, today I’m in agreement.. But I also say, “do what you love and love what you do, “ that way you’re never disappointed.

I’ve been trying to track down where the older cubs have been disappearing to with a few of the other adults. They always come in to Manuchi from the Southern side of the pan, while the others from the old den in the North. I had finally found their secret den in the hills and while nobody was home, I heard some shuffling off as I found the den site.

This is an old den they’ve used before and one the wild dogs have use also. I climbed down the hill side to get back to Manuchi before I missed out on the sunset sports, but none of the hyenas were there. They were all at the old den carrying on with the usual social activities. The younger cubs are both competing for a medal in bravery going on walk about and also all over my car. The one cub has a nice nature about it, but the other looks as if it will be a spirited one.

I’ve been out with Kim on the dogs during the last two afternoons, they are doing well and starting to stretch their legs again. With the pups growing fast , they are moving greater distances and also killing Impalas by the half dozen. The other day they killed five in one hunt! They had a festive morning with hyenas at Forma Danga pan. The dogs got the better of them and chased them off, but never underestimate those spotties. We are making headway on the film side, but as one project draws to a close so it marks the birth of a new idea and project – exciting times.

Buffalo Attraction: Video

Published

Wildcaster

on August 27, 2009

in videopost

. 27 Comments Tags:adventure, africa, animal-kingdom, blogumentary, buffalo, bush, bush-knowledge, conservation, den, documentary, ecotraining, education, endangered-species, experience, film, flickr, GLTP, gonarezhou, Great-Limpopo-Transfrontier-Park, hunting, hyena, Hyena cubs, IUCN-Red-List, kill, lions, malilangwe, mashable, narrowcasting, Open-Content-Alliance, pamushana, peace-parks, photos, podcasting, polls, predators, teach, video, waterhole, wild, wildcasting, wilderness, wildlife, wildlife-documentary, youtube, zimbabwe

I’ve been out and about this last week moving around the property, it’s been another pick-up shoot scramble trying to finish the last of what is needed for the movies in post production. I managed to find Chawhiwhi moping around on Banyini all on his own, he was there for three days while the rest of the pride have been moving around Malilangwe Dam. I’m hoping not to run into one of them as that is the route of my little midday run and I’ve seen a few tracks of late. This is an odd pride as they always seem to be going their own way.

Anyway, with most of my elephant shoot out of the way I’ve been trying to spend as much time with the hyena cubs as possible. I have a strong bond with two of the cubs in particular; they really get excited when they see my vehicle pulling up to the den.

The one little guy guns it straight for the spot on the floor next to the door. If I stick my feet out the door, he will have his little nibble at my toes then continue rolling around in the dry leaves on the ground – these guys are such value!

I’ve seen one of the male adults on his patrol and he has a snare around his neck, this just seems to be a continual battle, humans dream up such cruel ways of trapping animals. I’m hoping to get that snare off, but it is not easy to stay on his tail, I’ve tried twice already and failed. Another highlight in the week was my visit to the roan antelope paddock; these creatures are as majestic as the sable.

They receive a feed to help them perform at their peak, so I was asked to help out for a day when everyone was busy – it turned out to be a real treat. They are very rare antelopes that don’t seem to do well in the wild anymore. I was also treated to a large herd of buffalo pulling in at Nyari Pan the other day; it can be quite a spectacular sight as hundreds of buffalo wade into the water. So another week is on its back and I can’t wait to see what the next week has to offer!

Throw a Hippo a Bone: Video

Published

Wildcaster

on July 23, 2009

in videopost

. 12 Comments Tags:adventure, africa, animal-kingdom, blogumentary, bush, bush-knowledge, conservation, den, documentary, ecotraining, education, elephants, endangered-species, experience, flickr, GLTP, gonarezhou, Great-Limpopo-Transfrontier-Park, hunting, hyaena cubs, hyena, IUCN-Red-List, malilangwe, mashable, narrowcasting, Open-Content-Alliance, pamushana, peace-parks, photos, podcasting, predators, teach, video, wild, wild dogs, wildcasting, wilderness, wildlife, wildlife-documentary, zimbabwe

Kim and I have had a few intensive days of filming a list of sequences for the wild dog film. Our days start in the dark and end way after dark – I’m loving it! Heaven forbid we skip a day on Wildcast, but I think we had good reason, so apologies all round. I’ve been making a habit of spending the mornings up on the hill to provide light for the wild dog den.

The afternoon sun shines directly into the den, and provided the dogs are around, it makes for perfect lighting conditions. I’ve also been heading to the den at sunset to be there when the dogs get back from hunting; they’ve been leaving late afternoon and coming back long after dark. Last night they hadn’t killed, but this morning they hunted really early and involuntarily regurgitated for puzzles when she performed her screaming parade. The pups came out into that sunlight today; they seem to be a lot more mobile now.

After being out the entire day, I still like to find time on my way home from the wild dogs to pop into the hyena cubs, who are finding my tyres a welcome play toy in the evenings – I worry they might make light work of my tyres when they’re older. For now I can’t stay away from the little guys, even though they’re really fowl smelling at the moment. It is so bad you can smell them before you actually have them in sight, it’s a small price to pay though.

I think I connected with one of the mothers last night. When I was heading away from the den she was lying in the road, I stopped next to her and made some hyena type sounds - the best that I knew how. She immediately responded and weighted forward. I was a little surprised when she moved up to sniff my arm sticking off the side of the vehicle, she is fairly used to me coming and going all the time, but she seemed content that she had finally checked out this human sharing their den space.

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Tag Archive for 'den'

Hyena Walkabout: Video

Mudcrawlers: Video

Hyena Chop Stix: Video

Pin the Tail: Video

Buffalo Attraction: Video

Throw a Hippo a Bone: Video

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