SIMBA!

This past week was quite a thrill as I heard that a young zebra was killed near the waterhole. Predators are not on the list of always seen animals here at the ranch, as it is a relatively newly protected area, the populations and habitat are still recovering from years of poaching and over-grazing. It is a fantastic sign that the ranch is well on its way to recovery when there is evidence of the top of the food chain fulfilling its role. Hopefully it is just a matter of time before the lions become comfortable enough in this paradise to allow themselves to be seen by tourists.

The day after the kill, Rose (my everything.. cook, friend, research assistant, translator, etc. etc.) SMSed me when I was walking home. She told me to hurry home because it was getting late and the lion might get me. I laughed when I read it thinking it was a joke but when I arrived she had a very worried look on her face. Just goes to show that if lions do become more of a presence here, there is going to be another kind of animal to educate the locals about! It took about 3 days for the carcass to be completely gone and in the meantime, I had the company of numerous species of vultures during my hours at the waterhole this week. Its always nice to have something new to look at!