I was hoping to get my blog up to you yesterday, but as hard as we tried we just couldn’t locate the wild dogs.
I had hoped for an early start this morning but an all night drizzle put a dampener on that one for a couple of hours.
Heading up the hill to check for a signal for the dogs and I got a beep way way to the south. It was almost in the same place as the signal we had yesterday. So we continued to search on the ground travelling extensively in the southern areas all the way to Malevula hill. Still not a peep.
I then changed modus operandi and went in search of elephants. We came across a couple of bulls having their mud wallow and this dude just loving all the splashing. His friend wasn’t so keen and moved on in the shade.
But I wanted to find the elephant herds. And sure enough I found evidence of them right up in the north east. I presumed they might be here in search of marula berries, which are just ripening. They just love them.
The evidence of the herds was there but we didn’t find them. I think they must be in the thickets right up in the north.
Late afternoon I again took to the skies in search of the dogs. We flew for ages in the lovely light seeing lots of buffalo, a number of white rhino, all the general game but no sign on the dogs. This has now really snookered me.
I’m really stuck as to what to do next? And really I don’t have an option, I must just soldier on.
Tag Archive for 'endangered-species'
Malilangwe Drugs Course is on.
For the next week some 70 wildlife veterinarians and students from across Africa are at Malilangwe learning the latest in wildlife capture techniques and the use of medicinal drugs.
Today the practical was to dart this elephant bull. All went according to plan and he was soon on his way again, probably only nursing a slight hangover.
Earlier in the day I was happy to find Snorkel again. He still has a breathing problem but it’s a lot better than last week. Although he’s now only breathing through his trunk, not through his mouth any more, you can still hear he battles with each breath. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to stay with him as he moved into the wet clay soils. We were hoping to use him for the drugs course and at the same time try and alleviate his breathing problem.
The collared lioness was on her own today with no sign of the rest of the pride. No doubt they’ll join up again tonight.
Tomorrow for the drugs course we plan to change this large cumbersome collar for an implanted transmitter.
Earlier while walking in the hills try to locate the lioness I came across this young Spotted Eagle, probably only just out the nest. It sat around for me, just long enough for a couple of photos, but when I got too close it took off.
Chipfongwe’s got competition! This new little female elephant calf can only be a week or so old. How cute is that? Mom was drinking at Chekwa pan, but little miss wasn’t sure what to make of me and wanted out. But mom was relaxed. When mom did leave, the little girl took off ahead of mom.
The rains were great and kept on till midday today.
Temperatures are now more bearable and I was able to get into the field in the afternoon.
The elephants as usual had moved into the sandveld as they so often do after the rain.
Mandlovu and her herd were on their own but the main herd were about half a kilometre away.
Chipfongwe has come a long way in mastering the use of his trunk. But he has yet to master the use of it and chewing at the same time. He constantly seems to be chewing something but when you watch him feeding, whatever he manages to put in his mouth usually falls out.
At dusk a hyaena heavy in milk, walked past the elephants. I followed her hoping she would lead me to her den, but had to give up when she headed into some deep dongas/gullies.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to follow up on the wild dogs with the conditions being too wet on the clay soils along the Chiredzi river.
Missing wild dog.
The wild dogs had me on the trot this morning. I knew they were around Banyini but just couldn’t get to grips with them. Eventually I got a report from the scouts that they’d seen them at Chikwete Cliffs on the Chiredzi river which was many kilometres away. And they’d travelled there in half an hour. They sure have amazing stamina.
In that half hour though I’d been filming this group of giraffe bulls all sparring with each other on the airstrip. Luckily nobody had plans of landing right then.
It was another of those hot steamy days, but as I write it is now raining. What a relief! And the bush will be happy too!
Lots of the smaller pans had already dried up in the veld but the bigger ones like Chekwa were still going strong and the elephant were right there.
This dry spell hasn’t had any impact on the animals. There is plenty of food around and water too. But the grasses in most areas all but died back and dried out.
No doubt they will all be sprouting again tomorrow.
The dogs were taking flack in the heat and many were lying in the mud in a pan near the Chiredzi river. But towards sunset storm clouds built up obliterating the sun and the pack were on the move early.
It was only now that I was able to do a proper count – one dog is missing! I still can’t work out who it is. With so many to check and with them not standing still for me it’s not easy.
But all our key players are there, including all BB’s pups. So I’m not sure if it’s an adult or one of the Alpha pups missing.
The dogs definitely present – Alpha male and female, BB, Sash, Ntombi, One-eye, Toffee, Skrik, Brownie, Floppy, Split, Half-split, Cracker-Jack.
Come to think of it, I didn’t see Whisky and I’m sure I would have picked him up.
I’m going to have to check on them again but I left the dogs in the Chiredzi river. I was worried they might cross, but thankfully they are nervous of the water and crocodiles. So they should be in the area in the morning but depending on how much rain has fallen I might not be able to get down there tomorrow.
THE ‘MARABOU WALTZ’ VIDEO CLIP FROM 2 DAYS AGO, IS NOW WORKING.
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