Chief Prison Officer Jack Harris and the Author recently embarked on an elephant marking expedition under the aegis of the Department of Wild Life Conservation, having as the main item in their arsenal an experience mental slingshot, manufactured in the prison workshops. For this slingshot the
Department and all those concerned wish to record their most sincere thanks to the technical officers and others who helped in its manufacture.
Department and all those concerned wish to record their most sincere thanks to the technical officers and others who helped in its manufacture.
An uneventful journey of some 400 miles saw us at our destination; the house of Wild Life Conservation Officer Boyd Reese and his charming bride of three weeks. There in extreme confirm and enjoying an excellent cuisine, we girded ourselves for the fray.
On the morning of the 9th September we sighted our first jumbo; 4 bulls, no further than 1½ miles from the breakfast table. We approached to within 8 yards of them, and had our first attempt with the slingshot. Unfortunately the padding parted at the seating area of the paint filled electric globe, causing this missile to break before leaving the weapon. The brass portion did however fly true, and hit the target.
I must digress for a moment for the benefit of readers not acquainted with our rather novel weapon or the reason for its use. Visualise a powerful catapult mounted on a cross bow stock which hurls a paint filled globe with considerable velocity. This globe, on striking the target, breaks, the consequence being an admirable paint emblazoned animal. An easy identification mark is afforded enabling researchers to study migration and breeding habit and to ascertain whether the herds break and reform into new units or remain as the same herd.
After our first unsuccessful attempt we approached to within 20 yards of some hippopotami and threw by hand a globe which broke on the water a scant 5 yards short of the target.
Returning home we re-glued and re-sewed the padding of the slingshot.
While having afternoon tea on the verandah, 3 bull elephants were seen feeding into the Lundi River. A cry of action stations 1, a further painstaking stalk, and another globe fired from a range of some 10 yards at a bull feeding in some reeds. The glove flew strongly, but missed target by some 6 feet. A little more stalking, followed by another shot at 20 yards. This shot missed by but a few inches. The globe having all the force and speed that could be desired. The jumbo by now being alarmed, they ran off, stopping on the opposite bank near to the house. Again the excitement of the chase, the heart pumping anxiety of the stalk, and then the disappointment of the shot going 6 feet wide. No disturbance the reloading of the slingshot, and the last missile of the day fired. This one was on target, but 2 yards short. Consolation, though, the globe did break with sufficient force to spatter a few small spots on the elephant’s right hind leg.
We decided on the 11th, to mark and film hippo. Shortly after setting off an African Game Scout brought tidings of a deformed hippo. Previous attempts had been made to despatch this animal, and Mr Boyd Reese was elated to hear that it was now sunning itself in an easily accessible spot on a sand bank.
Proceeding cautiously and noiselessly along the Lundi on our errand of mercy, we overheard Africans
talking in the vernacular. Our command for them to be quiet had surprising results, for it caused the noisy ones to flee wildly. Our suspicions were aroused; we pursued them and after a hectic chase through he reed beds of the river one hapless victim was apprehended; a ‘piccanini’ of about 10 years old. Questioning elicited the information that he was one of a party of three poachers; he showed us the carcass of a freshly killed buck. This youngster was sent off under the escort of a Game Scout to bring in the other members of his party; an uncle and a brother. These three were
eventually sent for trial on a charge of poaching in a game reserve.
talking in the vernacular. Our command for them to be quiet had surprising results, for it caused the noisy ones to flee wildly. Our suspicions were aroused; we pursued them and after a hectic chase through he reed beds of the river one hapless victim was apprehended; a ‘piccanini’ of about 10 years old. Questioning elicited the information that he was one of a party of three poachers; he showed us the carcass of a freshly killed buck. This youngster was sent off under the escort of a Game Scout to bring in the other members of his party; an uncle and a brother. These three were
eventually sent for trial on a charge of poaching in a game reserve.
Shortly after the original object of our search, the deformed hippo, was sighted, and efficiently despatched by Boyd Reese. While awaiting the arrival of African skinners we had the extreme good fortune to view in it’s entirely a savage and thrilling fight between two massive hippo bulls not more than 15 yards away. Not only to witness it, but also to record this savage battle on film.
While breakfasting on the 14th, we sighted 3 jumbo bulls in the river bed. Due to the erratic behaviour of the slingshot we decided to revert to the older method of throwing the marking globes by hand.
After a most exciting approach to within 10 yards of a large bull, I took careful aim and threw a globe with considerable force. This struck the bull on the ear, but failed to break. The impact, however, alarmed him considerably, and he wheeled and charged straight at us. Boyd Reese and I, using an old trick, spoke to him, calling him, among other things a ‘silly old fool’. The power of the human voice once again proved effective and jumbo turned and made off. I threw another globe, this time with success, for it broke and marked the elephant low down inside his right leg, giving our first real mark.
The noise caused by these proceedings alarmed the rest of the herd, and we were somewhat disconcerted to see 6 elephants break cover where we had reckoned on only three.
These 6 crossed the river and our merry pursuit was rewarded by us finding them standing quietly but tightly bunched. Another glove was thrown and an effective mark noted. But unfortunately,
on the same animal as that which I had just previously marked.
on the same animal as that which I had just previously marked.
Some two hours later this young bull was sighted feeding, brilliantly marked with his 2 splashed of paint. Later in the day, at about 4pm we sighted a herd of 12 bull elephant and again set off with hope high in our breasts. Approaching to within 10 yards we threw another globe, this time marking a large bull on his left hip, near the spinal ridge. He ran off a few yards, and our elation was most marked until we turned and saw the rest of the herd stalking us in much the same way as we had stalked our recent target. Amongst this herd was ‘our’ young bull, proudly displaying his two badges of paint. A globe thrown at very close range gave us our third mark, this on a large bull with
tusks of at least 60-70lbs. A while later a herd of 30 odd cows was sighted and 5 globes in all thrown at them. These 5 globes marked successfully 3 cows; perhaps our most encouraging result.
tusks of at least 60-70lbs. A while later a herd of 30 odd cows was sighted and 5 globes in all thrown at them. These 5 globes marked successfully 3 cows; perhaps our most encouraging result.
Having to return to our daily chores in Salisbury prison, we regretfully bade our charming hosts farewell, and so turned our backs on a most enjoyable interlude devoted to the furtherance of science and wild life conservation on the banks of the Lundi River.
Written by the Late Mike Van Rooyen who was a friend of the family.
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