Albert's bush walk

Day Four: Today I could not wake up with my natural alarm (lions calling) however my mobile was handy. Albert and I had coffee and started for our bush walk around 6.00 AM. All these years I had seldom walked in concrete jungles of California, leave aside any bush walks that early. Within initial minutes I started getting sense that this is something unreal and amazing. Early morning dew was fresh and I could smell the wetness of the soil floor. It is very pristine environment here and at the end of our walk I did not even realize we had walked for 3 hours with only ONE 5 mins break. Those three hours were one of the best in my life. Albert is expert ranger and he gave me tons of information on animal tracks, how to read them, what to read about tracks, how poachers operate, how to recognize an animal from their droppings and different trees and their use in nature. I may have probably assimilated, processed and learned more information in those three hours than I have in my 17 years of professional education. The education I got today was about man/animals coexistence in nature for many many centuries. It is unbelievable. We reached camp around 9.00 AM and soon headed back to the SanWild office.

Cardinal Rules with wildlife

On our way to office is one of three lion enclosures. Just before we reached the enclosure I was saying to Albert about how lion communicate, what to do in even lion rushes etc, and I was trying to imitate the male lion noise. I was very eager to see lions up close. Earlier I also had said that I had seen the lions while in the car at a very close distance but never really got the scary feelings. I guess I spoke to early.

As we reached half way of the enclosure, I saw the pride sitting behind a tree and chilling out. (I guess they had a party last night). I was happy that I got to see them and did not realize that one of lionesses was fast approaching us cutting across our path on other side of the electric fence. Albert was to my left so he could not see clearly as she was little behind on the right side. There is a point where the distance between walking path and electric fence drops dramatically barely 4 to 6 feet. What happened next, I guess one need to experience it?

Cardinal rules in wild life

1) Be alert & aware of surroundings and speak softly OR whisper.
2) Don’t make sudden noise OR movements. This either scares the animal OR instigates an attack.
3) Never turn, show your back and start running to any approaching wild animal. Even the fastest 100 meter sprinter will be outrun by heaviest of the lions or an elephant in less than 3 to 5 steps and they can run longer than us. So running is out of question.
4) Stand still even if any animal approaches or charges up to a certain safe distance. Only experienced professional can say what a safe distance is. Beyond that imaginary line leave it to individual destiny J OR fate. Now if you happen to be really fortunate J and end up facing a free roaming Lion/Leopard or Tiger and only few yards separating, try searching your pockets, find and toss a coin. Please be patient and wait for your results.

Size does matter

In the wild animal world size does matter. We are insignificant even when confronted by any wild water buck OR Kudu or mid size antelopes with deadly horns, even ostrich can inflict severe damage with their powerful legs. To us Giraffe is like Eiffel tower but his legs are more powerful than entire Sumo Wrestler. When confronted by Big cats, Rhinos, elephants OR most dangerous hippos, to most humans, options are Next to None.

1) Limited options: Stand still, don’t move or make noise and hope/pray that big ones back off
2) No option: Face inevitable attack and hope to live to tell the story. If your stars are really bright and aligned, may be one in thousands, come alive and we will be glad to arrange live show on prime time TV network. Off course no cost to you.

Depending on what you do next will be what option you chose from above. I am not sure which one I did.

Ignoring the rules with a lioness

Cheetahs are the fastest of big cats but they are rarely a threat to human life. However do visualize; 70 miles an hour cheetah chasing for even 30 seconds, that helluva distance covered. But Leopards & tigers will stalk so quietly that you won’t even realize that they are within few feet of you. That’s when they make a final leap to catch their prey. By the time prey realizes it is too late. On the other hand, to humans, Lions will more often than not move away, but if too close, initially start walking up, to test you, speed a little bit more to back you off, then they give a mock charge to further back you off AND/OR turn around with growl. They will come to screeching halt within 20/30 yards of you and usually will avoid direct confrontation with humans. (I think they are more sensible than us). Lions will always let their presence know with series of actions/growls unlike tigers and leopards. Most important NEVER EVER look directly into lion or lioness eyes. They take it as a threat or challenge and in their world that threat or challenge has to be eliminated. It is a form of their natural defense to protect young cubs from enemies or even competition. It is a natural programming so to speak. Any one who ignores Lion’s initial actions and make stupid moves (easier said than done) will be, in most cases, served as a breakfast or lunch for rest of the pride

Mind well although there is a fence with serious voltage flowing thru it, today I guess I failed observing most of the cardinal rules. Although I did not make any sudden move, the mock charge she gave me was enough to invoke a natural reaction of moving sideways and at that time I was dead scared and what followed was enough to wet my under clothes 99 out of 100 times. Today was that one occasion when my heart fell into abyss of my abdominal cavity, without getting wet.

We are on their territory

Beyond this, I am trying to say is we humans are on their territory. No Lion is approaching us and saying give me a lion hug or no man with a common sense will go and confront a wild animal. This is why I feel we have abused our intelligence and have caused havoc on animal kingdom.

I moved on quietly with Albert and came to SanWild office to tell Louise the story. She has hand raised a couple of the lioness at SanWild. Anyway I guess I should have learnt a lesson, but No. I went to meet my heartthrob “Bliksem”. Whose enclosure is some 150 yards away into the bushes. I was happy to meet with him again. On my way back, I was regretting the fact that I did not have an extended life insurance to keep my next few generations going.

Half way to the office, I saw one of the antelope watching me, it was probably a Tobe. (Louise told me later it was Zak, the redhartebeest that has just been released). I continued to walk and then all of a sudden he started running toward me. I decided to go behind a tree and we kept circling for 4 to 5 times (as if I am doing religious rites in Hindu marriage Saat Phere 7 circles) and finally I broke free toward the gate. I ran fastest ever in my life to reach the gate but he almost got me. I closed the gate behind me which is barely 4 feet tall and he stood there sniffing me. I gave my hand and he quietly licked it as if mocking me “Didn’t I scared you”. I came back to office after that. Lesson well learned though hard way.

Elusive elephants

Afternoon, Andre and I went in search for Thukela Elephants and could not locate them even after circling the entire SanWild campus. As big as the elephants are, they are elusive. In wild world I am happy they avoid us in a sense they don’t always come face to face with people with guns. That will be a sad day. On the way back we came across zebras that walked up to us and could get some good photos. Before retiring for the day Louise told me they are going to perform a small operation tomorrow on some of the lions who has a small lump on their upper lips. Well, it is great from experience point but I guess this time will go with a plastic trouser and additional set of clothes.

I had an early dinner and went to sleep for tomorrow’s up close with lions.

Side Notes

Please use my personal email potnis_sunil@yahoo.com for comments/suggestions and improvements. Don’t hesitate as I take criticism in same stride and not looking for any personal credits.

About myself: I have always been upfront in nature when communicating what I see, hear and feel. I don’t believe in mincing words but speak my mind. I am a down to earth hands-on guy willing to roll up sleeves anytime. I never ran after money nor chased any mirage. But yes I always dream for good things and pray for happiness for everyone incl. animals. I could never sugar coat things and that probably has cost me some director or VP position in corporate world. Does it matter, NO WAY? Lord Ganesh has given me that a normal human should expect, beautiful family with loving pets and enough to sustain for 3 of us. I don’t dream of having a penthouse on 15th floor of most expensive street in New York, but I certainly dream of living with Bliksem/Bombie the lioness every single moment. Money according to me always creates a very fluid or volatile situation. It is there this moment, next moment is vanished. I strictly go by laws of Karma (slightly modified by me);

1) Do good, good will happen to you.
2) Keep doing positive actions but don’t expect in return.
3) We can control our life to an extent but life & death is not in our hands.

I created the 4th law

4) Killing and making greed full of money by canned hunting will certainly come back to haunt rest of the life. If you die it will hit your following generations until the killings are stopped and that money is used for good purpose in life. Because law of karma is you have to pay for your deeds in this life only. If you don’t, you are putting people around you at risk.

SanWild diaries continued

So far in five days I have derived the ultimate pleasure in life while working with animals. I am never tired; don’t take Starbucks coffee breaks, no dull moments. Every passing second brings a new thing into life. Thanks a million to Louise and her efforts to educate us and in turn we educate others. I have worked for more than 15 yrs in corporate environment including at Microsoft/Cisco and Robert Half International. The amount of education, satisfaction & pleasure completely blanks my corporate success. Not even for a second I have thought about work back in Silicon Valley. Such is profound & spiritual impact of working in natural world that no concrete jungle will ever be able to give to humans. That life just fades in front of life at SanWild.

To me, besides conservation, “SanWild”, is also an educational institution. She is currently in process of upgrading the facilities at SanWild and guess that may be her plan. I am already planning about my next term at SanWild in July 08. My 12 year old daughter wants to be a vet and I think this is a best place to start building the foundation for her. She WILL accompany me next time.

Animals supreme

At SanWild, animals are supreme and deservedly get the top importance. In animal world there are no traffic rules, no speeding tickets but sheer commonsense is to be applied when journeying thru here. Animals here are the ambassadors for their species in other parts of the world. Treating them with respect and dignity will enhance out reputation in turn. We just help them to carry out that journey. Hope I will be able to contribute some way to their success as I honestly don’t care about my personal success. Personal agenda and ego should be trashed before reaching here. One has to dirty the hands to see the fruits of success for animal world; else we will accelerate their demise. Please make a RIGHT CHOICE.

I was contemplating of introducing SanWild into corporate world for support which ever way, thru high tech medium, but I hesitate thinking that people in corporate have great urge for politics, promotions & pay raises and that will taint this pure environment. People, greedy to take credit whether due to or not, will unleash an uncontrollable chain reaction.

When any animal organization approaches corporate, their first and instant reaction is “Oh another one asking for money”. Hell No. The same corporations donate millions of dollars to elections, but when it comes to animals, the cheap looks and comments crop up. Why, because No subsidies, no returns on investments, no stock options growth.

To test my theory

To test and prove my theory, I approached few employers (also millionaires with BMW 7 series and above) that I am volunteering in South Africa, would you like to donate amount of your wish, to the organization I am going to. Guess what (I would rather sit in front most seat of world’s fastest/tallest roller coaster ride) I am patiently waiting for an answer from a big bureaucratic roller coaster with no reply till today.

Believe it or not, I had approached several millionaires and few billionaires via snail mail and also follow up with email for support, NOT ONE HAS responded. “Oh darn” I am supposed to give benefit of doubt that snail mail is lost in millions of letters, but I don’t think I ever saw my email bounced or a reply.

But wait; some president or a prominent personality from some remote country comes for dinner at five star hotel; millions will be raised in minutes. I understand this is capitalistic world and have no objection to any individual making millions/billions. But this also shows we do not value animal life at all. For us they are commodity. I am not generalizing but this is truth and it is difficult to digest for many.

Look at another situation, ask anyone on earth for $ 5000 for animal charity and see what the reaction is, but on the other hand if you end up connecting with a hunter, instead he will pay you $ 10,000 to shoot at a lion in or a Cheetah anywhere on the planet. Ridiculous isn’t it.

Human nature is why give money when I am not getting anything for my investment.

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