Animals demonstrate respect for each other. Even though some are prey and some predators, most take no more than they need and live in symbiotic relationships.
Animals are not like man which kill for the fun of killing.
On my second day at Manyoni we continued looking for the two wild dogs that had escaped from the reserve. We were trying to dart and redistribute them. These two dogs were survivors. They both suffered from snares, at the hands of humans, and had each lost a leg. The male his front leg and the female her back leg. As a result she was able to run and catch prey while he was slower. They found a way to helped each other out.
The management knew that the male couldn’t survive without her and as she was getting older and near to the end of her natural life the plan was to bond them with others where they could both thrive. While looking for them, we got a call. They had been killed by the town people. They were stoned to death as they were trying to come back. It is heartbreaking to think how they suffered at the end. The plan to redistribute them would now never to come into fruition as their lives were ended through cruelty of man.
Why do some kill for the mere enjoyment of killing… I cannot understand that. Through my travels and contemplation perhaps I can come to a better understanding of man. I have already seen the destructiveness of man through Guernica, but have also have seen the survival and compassion of man as the result of such tragedy.
Manyoni was an awesome experience.
Other than that tragedy, we also saw a cheetah mom and 2 daughters and son feeding on a recent kill and grooming themselves.
Their act of killing, also tragic for the Nyala, but necessary for their own survival. These animals are magnificent and it is a privilege to see them in their own environment.
Traveling with a herd of elephants was thrilling as they plowed their way through the trees and bushes.
Besides the elephants, cheetahs, lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, nyalas, kudus, hippos, ostriches, vultures and eagles an abundance of other birds can been seen.
South Africa’s magnificent wildlife is hardly be matched.
Wildlife ACT was great. The facilitation of the tracking and monitoring in order to keep track of and balance the wildlife is an essential part of management. It was a honor to be part of the organization.
I look forwards to my retirement. Where I will go next and what i will do could be anything. I will leave my options open. Exciting to find out what it will be.
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