(photo credit: Kaye Perron)
I hope that you enjoyed last week’s post with my account of being part of a game capture mission in South Africa. The following post is a continuation. Things begin to wild in the bush…
Continuing to accompany Eric with his mission to capture 20 Nyala, I went out with him the next day while it was still light out. Although we had some excitement, we were unsuccessful in capture. Driving around the park, we searched for Nyala. Of course, I was only interested in finding small females. The males are much larger and it was hard enough lifting and holding small females on my lap. Sure enough we found a grouping and Eric darted a female Nyala. We were off to find her. Within 5 minutes, Eric spotted her, and, although we were 100 yards away, he knew something was wrong. He rushed to her.
Continuing to accompany Eric with his mission to capture 20 Nyala, I went out with him the next day while it was still light out. Although we had some excitement, we were unsuccessful in capture. Driving around the park, we searched for Nyala. Of course, I was only interested in finding small females. The males are much larger and it was hard enough lifting and holding small females on my lap. Sure enough we found a grouping and Eric darted a female Nyala. We were off to find her. Within 5 minutes, Eric spotted her, and, although we were 100 yards away, he knew something was wrong. He rushed to her.
(photo credit: Kaye Perron)
As I followed, I saw that she had a large gash on her back side. She was alive though. As Eric lifted her head (remember their heads must stay up so that they do not choke on their vomit), I began to scream, as I saw blood squirting from her neck. Eric exclaimed that her neck was broken and began to point out the leopard bite on her neck as she had been attacked in her stuper. The attack must have happened within a minute before Eric spotted her. As Eric begins to give me a lesson of anatomy and the workings of the attack, I explain that this cat must be watching us play with its kill. It must be close perhaps in a tree right above us. I did not want to piss it off so strongly urged Eric to get me out of there. And, we were off. And we left the poor little Nyala to be dragged into the trees for dinner.
Although I was nearly done with this new career of capturing huntress, I went out once more. We were unsuccessful once again (I can't say I was all that upset by our lack of seeing any nyala....most scared off by the leopards I am sure) but did have another little wildlife adventure.
As we drove around, we came across tons of wildlife.
Although I was nearly done with this new career of capturing huntress, I went out once more. We were unsuccessful once again (I can't say I was all that upset by our lack of seeing any nyala....most scared off by the leopards I am sure) but did have another little wildlife adventure.
As we drove around, we came across tons of wildlife.
KAYE'S TENT OVERLOOKING THE AFRICAN LANDSCAPE (photo credit: Kaye Perron)
At some point, Eric spots a kudu female and then (with super human eyes) he realized there was a baby kudu with it. He makes a quick turn off the dirt path into the bush. Once again, I was warning to just leave it alone...kept saying "don't go near the mother and the baby". But Eric was excited and told me of the fun that awaits.
As we approached the mother (these antelope are BIG), the mother ran off and left a little baby lying in the grass. The baby didn't move...surprisingly it didn't move at all. I, then, realized it was all wet and had just been born. Eric hops off the ATV and the babe takes its first wobbly steps to try and escape him. Eric snatches the newborn kudu up and walks the two or three steps to me. I think he thought I was going to want to touch it. It was amazing to see it take its first wobbly steps. As as Eric held him up, you could see the umbilical cord hanging down, still dripping with blood. Incredible to see, but I didn't need to scare the poor babe out of its mind.
As we approached the mother (these antelope are BIG), the mother ran off and left a little baby lying in the grass. The baby didn't move...surprisingly it didn't move at all. I, then, realized it was all wet and had just been born. Eric hops off the ATV and the babe takes its first wobbly steps to try and escape him. Eric snatches the newborn kudu up and walks the two or three steps to me. I think he thought I was going to want to touch it. It was amazing to see it take its first wobbly steps. As as Eric held him up, you could see the umbilical cord hanging down, still dripping with blood. Incredible to see, but I didn't need to scare the poor babe out of its mind.
(photo credit: Kaye Perron)
As darkness set in again, I was happy to sit at the camp and wait for the professionals to do their thing.
I feel very blessed to have been able to have this experience. It is an experience that most South Africans have not had the opportunity to have much less a New Yorker.
About a week after the capture missions, I moved on from South Africa and began a three month journey north, heading to Kenya. I truly enjoyed my time in South Africa. And yearn to return sometime in the not too distant future.
I wish you all safe travels.
- Kaye
I feel very blessed to have been able to have this experience. It is an experience that most South Africans have not had the opportunity to have much less a New Yorker.
About a week after the capture missions, I moved on from South Africa and began a three month journey north, heading to Kenya. I truly enjoyed my time in South Africa. And yearn to return sometime in the not too distant future.
I wish you all safe travels.
- Kaye
 | Guest Writer - Kaye Perron Kaye has been traveling the world since her teens. Starting as an exchange student in Japan, she spent her twenties traveling throughout Europe. Her appetite for the exotic led her to less developed nations throughout Central & South America, where she became fluent in Spanish. Her passion for understanding other cultures led her on a three month adventure through Africa this past winter as a sole female on many a dusty road, with a backpack, a bus tickets and her tent. Kaye is also an entrepreneur. |
Note: This article is a re-print from 2014
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