Yesterday morning I awoke to a strange noise, a noise that I have never heard before. At first I thought it was rain because of all the individual cracks and pops. I didn’t see any rain, or any body outside my window above my bed. I jumped out of the bed and ran upstairs to look out the window, the noise was louder but I still could not see the cause of the cracking and popping sound. I went back downstairs and peered out the window-facing west. To my amazement and fear I saw flames about seven feet tall stretching down the fence that divided the road and the reserve. I grabbed a bucket filled it with water and ran outside. I got to the fence and there I saw Stoffel and his team doing a control burn along the fence to burn the tall red autumn grass so it is easier to clean up the rubbish that people through out and to gain access to chop down the invasive trees that plague the land. The team laughed at me, still in a tank top and my pajama bottoms half covered is spilt water, with the look of shock and fear still plastered on my face with sleepy eyes. It took a moment to come to the realization that the fire was under control and I was not needed.
I got into the bucky and drove around the reserve in search for the biggest Eland, named George. I had to photograph him to send to a wildlife raiser who knows the ins and outs of game trading and breeding. There is an offer to swap George for another bull Eland in order to have a stronger genetic difference in our Eland family. Swapping is common and it helps make stronger gene pools for animals. Here at Kedar we are afraid that our bull Giraffe will begin to mate with his two daughters when they are ready, which could lead to many complications. There is a younger male but he is solitary and never to be found around the family of four. I found George unknowingly at the time because there are usually five to seven Eland that roam together all over the land. The tall grass can camouflage them well especially when they lay or keep their heads down to graze. I got out of the truck and started to approach the chewing Elands, the closer I got the slower they chewed. I stood my ground and called out George’s name hoping for a response. Before I knew it I was having a full conversation with the group of Elands asking for George and what his deal was. They chewed slower and slower the more I talked. I got my photos and jumped back into the bucky only to find the family of four Giraffes nibbling on the Acacia’s and needle bushes. I pulled up and watched them nibble and cry. When I first I saw the Papa Giraffe cry I thought he was in pain from the plethora of ticks attached to the inner sides of his thighs and around his genitalia. After having a fear that the Giraffe maybe under a tick infestation I did my research and found that Giraffes have no tear ducts. I also have closed tear ducts and I feel for the Giraffe. But I never have to worry about flies on or around my eyes.