Sasa ngombe alikufa

I know it seems like this blog is full of dead animals, and I am still hoping that this is the last I have to write, but nonetheless, news is news. About a week ago some askari friends of mine had told me about a cow that they had dragged out of the furrow where we get water. It was alive and eating, but wouldn’t stand up. I asked them if they wanted a knife (its not uncommon for people to come greet me when they actually want something). They laughed and laughed and explained that it was a Masai cow because the ears were shredded. So, this cow was grazing on the ranch illegally across from the river from where it belongs, but it was not ours to eat. So, I let the cow sit there, eating grass within reach. She actually seemed rather content. The next day when I came back from the waterhole I noticed she was standing and eating inside the fence of my compound. I thought it was strange and mentioned it to a visitor who was waiting for me, but then got distracted and forgot about it. The following night, my askari knocked on my door and told me the cow had died in the furrow. Nothing like a cow dying unexplainably in the water source upstream from where the people that work and play on the ranch collect water! The askari who gave me the news seemed to think that the dead cow was now under my jurisdiction since it died in the compound, but I had no clue what to do with it. I think he called the office and soon thereafter help came to move the cow away from my house. As much as I like wildlife, its probably not a good idea to attract hyenas right outside my door as it is also near the village and the houses of other workers that may not appreciate a predator presence as much as I.