A Year with A Different View: Reality Bites

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we saw a kill unfold in front of us“, we naively said to our driver/guide. He informed us, wisely, that because we were in the area for only a short amount of time, it is a rare sight and only if one is really lucky will one witness a hunt and kill. We hoped to be one of the fortunate few but knew that we would only see what we would see; nothing more. And sometimes when you aren’t looking; you see the most.

We left Lake Maynara National Park and headed to the southern end of the Great Migration with approximately 3 million migrating animals. We’d been driving for several hours and looking for any and all animal activity as we headed to our new lodge.

The roads were rough but even as we were jostling and bouncing, we were having a great time spotting lots of various game; when all of a sudden………….. Not one but two Thompson Gazelles are running right toward our truck. At full speed. With jackels in focused pursuit. WHAT?!!? Are we seeing what we think we’re seeing? With no time for our minds to process the scene, we were watching two jackels chase a young gazelle with a mama gallantly trying to protect her offspring. It was futile for her, as she can only chase one jackel at a time and they used a strategic, coordinated effort.

Eventually we watch, agog, as the jackels knock down the baby gazelle and start tearing a hole in it’s belly. An organ, probably a lung, along with lots of gut juice come spilling out. When next, to our astonishment and disbelief, we see the little gazelle actually get up and scurry away. With it’s intestines falling out. It kicked and wailed and struggled and screamed and wailed some more. This little gazelle fought so hard to live. But there was no end other then the obvious. The jackels would have their dinner. We watched, not 20 feet in front of our truck, with mouths agape as they devoured, divided in half and buried the remaining carcass. It was an unbelievable scene.

Our guide informed us that antelope, fortunately, have really short memories and it wouldn’t be too long before mama Thompson gazelle would cheerfully go about eating her vegies. We don’t know if that is true, or if they’ve actually studied antelopes retention span, but it was what we needed to hear. To us, she looked very sad and pitiful.