WEB Vetnews May 2015

Story I Storie

THE FLYING SYRINGE <<< 21

Sundays, we drove along the Sabie River to fish for tiger and bream in the clear pools (with permission, of course). One afternoon, we heard rustling in the wild fig tree above us. We were worried that it might be a leopard, until we became the target of wild figs being pelted at us from above by a troop of vervet monkeys! They were very upset at our invasion of their territory and swore horribly at us! The monkeys and, more importantly, begging from tourists and becoming dangerous if they did not get what they demanded. The park management eventually appointed the local traffic cop to catch the troop leaders. They issued him with a gas pistol which can shoot a syringe filled with anaesthetic. He had to catch most of the ringleaders and drop them off miles away so that they could not find their way back to the land of snacks and goodies. He drove out in his car and shot a ringleader at point-blank distance, but the others scattered. By the third or fourth attempt, the baboons scattered at first sight of his painted police car approaching. Needless to say, the staff in the Park teased him about this mercilessly. the baboons were a problem on the roads near the tourist camp,

trees, until Wolhuter had enticed the rhinos out and away from the truck. As they moved into the open area they ran blindly into the bush. On another occasion Dr Johan van Niekerk enlisted us, the two veterinary students, to assist with a post mortem on a rhino that had run into a river and drowned – an unforgettable experience! Witnessing the current slaughter of these magnificent animals, we are at a loss for words at the greed of people and the inability of governments to take decisive action...” Dr Raoul van der Westhuizen continues: With most of the Kruger National Park closed to tourists at the time, Dave and I were privileged to witness events in the wild that very few people ever get to see. In the absence of tourist traffic, the wild animals ventured near and even “camped” on the roads. On

major operation. In Skukuza, the veterinary team waited anxiously and on the arrival all of us went out to witness the unloading (in open veldt). Raoul and I perched on the roof of the truck roof to observe the historical event. The rangers opened the gate of the truck but meanwhile the aggressive animals tried their best to destroy the inside of the truck and refused to come out into the unfamiliar environment. This is where the bravery and bush sense of Henry Wolhuter came to the rescue. He stood at the open gate and did a dance and waved his arms to entice the animals to attack him and so they charged out. As they emerged, Wolhuter quietly stepped to the side next to the truck. What followed was a brief but potentially deadly game of hide and seek through and around the

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Billy, die koedoewesie

B illy, ‘n koedoeweesbul, word deur twee Arabierperd-voogma’s gesoog. Susan Smit van die Tahillah-boerdery, het hom in die veld gevind waar hy honger rondgedwaal het. “Billy se ma was nerens in sig nie. Dit is vreeslik droog en die diere kry swaar. Ons weet nie hokeom hy alleen in die veld was nie, maar hy was honger en net vel en been. Sy naelstring was nog vars.” Sy en haar man, Charl, boer met Arabierperde, boerbokke, wild en skape aan die Oranjeriver in Namibië, oorkant die Suid-Afrikaanse grensdorp Onseepkans. Sy het hom huistoe gebring en gehoop dat haar Arabierperdmerries sal toelaat dat hy aan hulle drink. Hul eie vullens was pas gespeen. Die Arabierperdmerries in hul stoetery is baie goeie ma’s wat hul vullens goed teen roofdiere beskerm. Haar hoop is nie beskaam nie, en Billy drink nou lustig aan sy surrogaatma’s. Wanneer hy dik gedrink is by Zara, die een merrie, gaan hy na Marie, een van die ander merries. v

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Mei/May 2015