Thursday, February 4, 2010

Looking after Grey Matters camp deep in the delta, night of the kill

our afternoon went as normal after the mornings excitement. Marula's head is the same as yesterday and we are checking her twice a day but medicating once. Tabu's foot is still being treated as are 1 or 2 scrapes on his front legs, his trunk is better now. The trio departed as the storm clouds once again build up to the East.
After 7 there was a plane on the airstrip it seamed to take off then return to the strip then take off again! We're not sure what was going on there?

7:30 ish the storm was now to the North and East, between the thunder I could hear wild elephants just across the water trumpeting and lions as well, this went on for 15 - 20 min. We had some light rain but once again the heavy rain missed the camp. The trio returned with Amos & Dazo just before 8, the wind was blowing, leaves flying, but still very little rain.

It was about 1 am I woke and herd a crash, then crying, the cry's were very close, just out of the camp to the North West I think. The cry's became muffled and weak... I was witnessing a kill. I think it mush have been the leopard as there was no noise afterwards, then the hyena's came running through the camp whooping loudly, they too had heard the crying. There weren't any alarm calls from impala so I am guessing that it was one of the bush bucks that came to an end. this morning I took a look around that side of the camp, but didn't find anything conclusive other than the hyena tracks, it was too wet to venture far.

Earlier this morning we had some cloud cover as the boma was cleaned out early and the mopane lads got away at 6:40 Leano & Dazo with the trio just after 7, its very hot & humid with more storm clouds building to the North & East... The thunder is starting now.

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