Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

The Great Reunion

26 April 2012

Categories: Kenya News

Two days after the dramatic move of animals from the site of the new Konza city (see previous story), we noticed a young hartebeest trapped in the fenced area with the mother frantically trying to get back to it. With the 10 foot heavy duty chain link fence standing between the mother and the calf, both stood no chance of a reunion.

We switched off our Land Rover engines as we tiptoed to the 10 foot fence. To have minimum disruption to the calf, most of our team members had to watch from a distance as we made an effort to save the young animal. With the nearest opening to the 10 foot fence more than ten kilometers away, we had to make sure the calf (that was luckily lying down by the fence) didn’t move. The young calf luckily trustingly submitted to us, allowing Martin our senior driver, to lift it from under the fence through a temporary exit we had created. Once outside the enclosure, the startled calf attempted to run off. With the herd of hartebeest now kilometers away, we had to drive the calf to a distance where the reunion with the mother would be easy.

After  a short time, we were happy to witness the reunion of the mother and calf. The calf appeared totally at home in the midst of the other wild animals. It always excites us when animals in such circumstances are able to be absorbed back to their wild families. With the Konza situation weighing heavily on our minds, we moved on, starting to plan for another go at the Naivasha area with our anti-poaching message.  With all the challenges facing our animals, time is of the essence.

Victor Mutumah- Born Free Foundation Kenya.

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