Activities in the bush

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 20 2008 | By: okavangocarnivores

Work in the field

I have been out of camp for a couple weeks visiting my family in Southern Botswana. Everyone seems to doing very well there and it was nice to spend time with them. However, I am happy to be back in camp and out in the field again. This is our winter season, which is a very good time to do more in terms of field work, regardless of all the freezing nights and mornings. In particular, it is an excellent time to do more spoor count surveys.

People often ask me what I do from day to day. Well, there is quite a lot to say as my life at camp is always busy. The central aspect of my job is carnivore monitoring which includes spoor tracking amongst other things. Below are some pictures and more information about my daily activities, some more welcome than others.

Spoor tracking

Myself in the field

Pic: Scanning for carnivore tracks on the road (transect) during spoor survey conducted two days ago.

Pic. Measuring lion footprint

2.
Picture 1 and 2. Taking notes in the field.

Other parts of my days

If you are driving a car in the bush, especially off-road, numerous challenges present themselves. It is almost impossible to avoid punctures and repairing tyres is a key aspect of our routine, although it is far from the most enjoyable!

Pictures above show me fixing a tyre, which happens at least once a week as I go out more for spoor counts.

Leopard sometimes conceal their kill

I want to share this picture with you of the remains of an impala that was killed by a leopard. This kill was nicely concealed with pieces of sticks and grass. This is interesting as I have never encountered this behavior with a leopard kill before. In most cases, leopards leave their kills underneath a tree or up in it, they rarely take the time to cover them up like this one. This was very exciting

Pic. Impala kill

5 Responses to “Activities in the bush”

Annie, on 20 Jul 2008

Thanks for sharing……..wow…did not know that leopards would hide their kill like that…very interesting…seems like you enjoy your job! Thanks for sharing

okavangocarnivores, on 23 Jul 2008

To Annie
Well! leopards are incredibly smart. Actually I was astonished and impressed by how the kill was neatly covered. I seldom see that.

okavangocarnivores, on 23 Jul 2008

To All my blog viewers
I apologise for delayed response to your comments. Unrealiable internet access here in the bush is main cause of the delay.

sauwah, on 29 Jul 2008

this leopard was behaving very much like our domestic cats. so happy to your blog up and running!

safari in botswana has been great for me! the beef exporting business for this country is second to dimonds right? Although hard money generated from eco-tourism has been great, this industry has very little influence on the government and its decision making like erecting fences that cut off the traditional migration route during the dry season for water and food.

the livestock loss compensation program does not save any lion or other predators seems to me since the government pays even though the predators are killed. so where is the life of that predator saved? it only works if the rancher or beef baron does not kill the lion or other predator if he elects to accept the compensation. just look at the live stock compensation program in the masailand. it works well until now due to the lack of fund/tourists.

the fence often kills animals that are stuck while crossing over it in search of the life saving water and food. but it does not stop any big cat from jumping or crawling underneath. i heard in one case one fence that had a gap big enough for donkeys to go through; yet no government agent there to seal it. so wildlife guard saw donkeys running with wild animals.

in short, the beef barons have much influence yet they are reluctant to take some money out from their very deep pockets on guarding their cattle as ranchers do in other areas by paying cowboys or ranch hands .

Hugh, on 25 Sep 2008

Hi Dungi,

This blog is great! Keep up the good work.

And good luck with the tyres mona. Aish!

Best, Hugh.

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